Nigeria gets another chance at 2026 World Cup, faces Gabon in FIFA playoffs
Though Nigeria failed to automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, it has however secured a spot in the CAF playoff tournament to determine Africa’s representative in the inter-confederation playoffs.
The inter-confederation playoffs could afford Africa a tenth World Cup spot, with nine African countries already granted automatic qualification by reason of emerging top in their respective groups.
The nine group winners in the CAF World Cup qualifiers have gained direct entry into the 2026 global tournament. The four best runners-up from the nine groups which include Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon and DR Congo will participate in a CAF playoff tournament.
The winner of the CAF playoff tournament will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs to determine the final two teams qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This is another chance for the Super Eagles to secure a spot at the 2026 World Cup. Nigeria qualified for the CAF playoffs after defeating Benin in a 4–0 victory, while Gabon secured a space after placing second in Group F with a 2–0 victory over Burundi.
DR Congo had a narrow 1–0 win over Sudan to finish runners-up in Group B, while Cameroon came second in Group D, earning both countries their spots in the playoffs.
Nigeria will take on Gabon in one of the semi-finals, while Cameroon and DR Congo will clash in the second semi-finals. The winners would then proceed to the finals for a decisive match that will produce the African representative for the inter-confederation playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The inter-confederation playoffs will feature six teams in a mini-tournament, competing for the final two spots at the World Cup, in an event that will hold in March 2026 in North America, which will double as a test run for the 2026 World Cup.
The six teams are to be selected from five of FIFA’s confederations. CONCACAF (North America) will have two teams, AFC (Asia) one team, and CAF (Africa) one team. CONMEBOL (South America) will also have one team, and OFC (Oceania) will have one team. UEFA (Europe) will not be partaking.
One team will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs from a four-team CAF playoff tournament, with Nigeria as one of the four teams, having finished as one of the best runners-up in the group stage of the CAF World Cup qualifiers.
The CAF playoff tournament featuring the four best runners-up from the nine CAF World Cup qualifiers groups have been scheduled to hold from November 13 to 16 in Morocco.
