Nigeria to Clash with Gabon as World Cup Play-off Battles Begin in Morocco

Nigeria will battle Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs, following the completion of the group stage on Tuesday. The Super Eagles advanced to the play-offs after a dominant 4–0 victory over Benin Republic earlier in the day, while Gabon secured second place in Group F with a 2–0 win against Burundi. Ivory Coast topped the group after a convincing win over Kenya.

Elsewhere, DR Congo booked their spot by edging Sudan 1–0 to finish second in Group B behind Senegal, while Cameroon also progressed after placing second in Group D behind Cape Verde. The play-offs will feature the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups and are scheduled to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16.

Nigeria, expected to remain the highest-ranked African team among the quartet when FIFA’s updated rankings are released on October 23, will face the lowest-ranked side, Gabon. The other semi-final will see Cameroon square off against DR Congo. Both games are set for November 13, with the winners meeting three days later in a single-leg final to decide who advances to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026.

The matches will be single-leg knockouts at a CAF-designated venue in Morocco. If tied after 90 minutes, extra time and, if necessary, penalties will determine the winner. The mini-tournament provides Africa with one more opportunity to qualify for the expanded 48-team World Cup, in addition to the nine group winners who have already booked their places at the finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.