Nigeria to Face Gabon in World Cup Play-off

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs, following the conclusion of the qualifying group matches on Tuesday.

The fixture was confirmed after the results of the final group games, which determined the four best runners-up to compete for one remaining continental slot.

The Super Eagles booked their spot with an emphatic 4–0 victory over Benin Republic earlier in the day. Gabon, on the other hand, sealed second place in Group F after defeating Burundi 2–0, aided by Ivory Coast’s win over Kenya that confirmed their position as runners-up. Both nations now move one step closer to keeping their World Cup dreams alive.

The play-offs, which will feature the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups, are scheduled to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16. Nigeria, expected to remain the highest-ranked team among the quartet when FIFA’s updated rankings are released on October 23, will face the lowest-ranked side, Gabon, in the semi-finals.

Both semi-final matches will be played on November 13, with the winners meeting three days later in a single-leg final. The overall winner of the mini-tournament will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026, where they will compete for a place at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

According to CAF, all matches will be single-leg knockouts, and if tied after 90 minutes, extra time and penalties will decide the outcome. The mini-tournament in Morocco provides Africa an additional opportunity to claim a spot at the expanded 48-team World Cup, with the nine group winners having already qualified directly for the 2026 finals.