Nigeria will battle Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs, following the conclusion of group-stage qualifiers on Tuesday. The Super Eagles sealed their place with an emphatic 4–0 win over Benin, while Gabon clinched second place in Group F after defeating Burundi 2–0. Ivory Coast’s victory over Kenya ensured Gabon’s progression as one of the four best runners-up.
Other nations joining Nigeria and Gabon in the play-offs include DR Congo, who beat Sudan 1–0 to finish second behind Senegal in Group B, and Cameroon, who claimed the runners-up spot in Group D behind Cape Verde. The play-offs will take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16, with two semi-final matches leading to a single-leg final.
Nigeria, expected to be the highest-ranked African side among the four when FIFA releases its updated rankings on October 23, will face Gabon — the lowest-ranked team. The other semi-final will see Cameroon go head-to-head with DR Congo in what promises to be another tense encounter.
Both semi-finals are scheduled for November 13, while the final will be played three days later. The overall winner will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026, where they’ll fight for a spot at the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
According to CAF, the matches will be single-leg knockouts hosted in Morocco, with extra time and penalties deciding any tied games. While all nine African group winners have already qualified directly, the play-offs present Africa one last chance to send an additional team to the expanded 48-nation World Cup.