CAF Playoffs: Super Eagles To Face Gabon As Road To 2026 FIFA World Cup Continues
2 min read
By Sedara Philip
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have been drawn to face Gabon in the semi-finals of the CAF playoff tournament for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental playoffs.
Gabon finished second in Group F with 25 points, just one point behind African champions Côte d’Ivoire (26 points), to earn a spot among the top four runners-up who advanced to the playoffs.
The semi-final encounter will determine who progresses to the final scheduled for Sunday, November 16, where the winner will meet either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo — who face off in the other semi-final.
The victor of the final will then go on to represent Africa at the Intercontinental Playoffs, set for March 2026 in North America, reportedly across two venues in Mexico. The intercontinental event will decide the final two qualification slots for the expanded 48-team FIFA World Cup to be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
Nigeria booked their playoff berth after finishing as one of the four best second-placed teams across the nine African qualifying groups.
Heading into their final Group C clash against Benin Republic in Uyo, the Super Eagles needed a convincing victory to secure enough points and goal difference to make the playoffs.
They delivered in style — with Victor Osimhen netting a superb hat-trick and Frank Onyeka adding a stoppage-time strike to seal a 4–0 victory, ensuring Nigeria’s progression as Group C runners-up, behind South Africa, who topped the group after a 3–0 win over Rwanda to book their first World Cup appearance since 2010.
The playoff format will feature six teams one each from Asia (AFC), Africa (CAF), South America (CONMEBOL), and Oceania (OFC), plus two from North and Central America (CONCACAF).
The bottom four teams in the FIFA World Rankings will contest two single-leg eliminators. The winners will then advance to face the top two ranked teams in another round of knockout matches, with the two victors earning the final World Cup tickets.
