2026 W’Cup: Super Eagles set to face Gabon in African play-off semi-finals

Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set for a thrilling clash against Gabon in the semi-finals of the African zone play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, following the conclusion of the qualifying group stage on Tuesday.

The three-time African champions sealed their place in the play-offs after a dominant 4–0 victory over Benin Republic, a result that secured them second place in their group and boosted their hopes of booking a ticket to the World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Meanwhile, Gabon’s national team, the Panthers, also advanced to the play-offs after a solid 2–0 win over Burundi. Their qualification was further aided by Ivory Coast’s victory over Kenya, which ensured Gabon’s second-place finish in Group F.

DR Congo narrowly beat Sudan 1–0 to finish as runners-up to Senegal in Group B, while Cameroon claimed second place in Group D behind Cape Verde, completing the four best runners-up heading to the play-offs.

The mini-tournament is set to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16 and will feature Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo.

The semi-final winners will face off in a single-leg final, with the victor earning a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026, where one African team will get a final chance to qualify for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Based on seeding, Nigeria, projected to remain Africa’s highest-ranked team among the four when FIFA releases its updated rankings on October 23, will meet Gabon, the lowest-ranked team in the play-offs.

The other semi-final will see Cameroon take on DR Congo.

Both semi-finals are scheduled for November 13, with the final set for November 16.

All matches will be single-leg fixtures, with extra time and penalties used to determine the winner if necessary.

CAF is expected to announce the host cities and venues shortly.

While Africa’s nine group winners have already secured direct qualification for the expanded 48-team 2026 World Cup, the play-offs provide an additional opportunity for the continent to add one more representative through the inter-continental route.