Nigeria to face Gabon in 2026 World Cup play-off semi-final

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will battle Gabon in the semi-finals of the African play-offs for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

This follows Nigeria’s emphatic 4–0 victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday, which confirmed their progression after the conclusion of the qualifying group stage.

The result saw Nigeria finish second in Group C with 17 points, just one point behind leaders South Africa, who defeated Rwanda 3–0 to top the standings.

Gabon also secured their spot in the play-offs after beating Burundi 2–0 to claim second place in Group F, while Ivory Coast and DR Congo booked their tickets from Groups A and B respectively. Cameroon advanced from Group D behind Cape Verde.

According to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, the Super Eagles will take on Gabon’s Panthers in the first semi-final on Thursday, November 13. The second semi-final will see Cameroon face DR Congo on Friday, November 14.

The winners of both encounters will meet in the final on Sunday, November 16, with the victor advancing to the Intercontinental Play-offs slated for Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico, in March 2026.

At the global play-off stage, six teams, including Africa’s representative, will compete for two remaining slots at the 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

Other confirmed participants include Bolivia, New Caledonia, the winner of the Asian play-off between Iraq and the United Arab Emirates, and two teams from Jamaica, Costa Rica, or Panama.