The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that the Super Eagles’ training camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa playoffs will officially open on Sunday, November 10, in Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria will face Gabon in the playoff semi-final on Thursday, November 13, while Cameroon and DR Congo will contest the other semi-final. The winners of both ties will meet in the final on Sunday, November 16, with the overall champion advancing to the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico scheduled for March 2026.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), both semi-final matches will take place in Rabat — either at the 18,000-capacity El-Barid Stadium or the 22,000-capacity Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex. CAF is expected to conduct a draw today (Thursday) to determine which fixtures will be hosted at each venue.
Speaking ahead of the crucial qualifiers, NFF President Ibrahim Gusau expressed optimism about the team’s readiness and determination to secure the final World Cup ticket.
> “Everything is being done by the NSC and NFF to ensure no stone is left unturned,” Gusau said. “That same spirit that saw the team score four crucial goals against Benin Republic in the final round will drive them to victory again. The camp opens in Rabat on November 9, and all the players are aligned and motivated to make Nigeria proud.”
Nigeria reached the playoffs after finishing as one of the best second-placed teams from the group stage. The playoff pairings were determined using the latest FIFA rankings released on October 17.
While nine African nations have already qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup — to be hosted jointly by Canada, Mexico, and the United States — one more African team will earn a chance to compete for a place through the FIFA intercontinental playoff tournament.
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