Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to face Gabon in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs.
The match is scheduled for Thursday, 13 November 2025, in Morocco.
Gabon, who finished second in Group F with 25 points behind AFCON champions Côte d’Ivoire (26 points), will provide a stern test for the Nigerian side.
A victory over Gabon would see the Super Eagles progress to the final, where they will meet the winner of the other semi-final between Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, 16 November.
The winner of that final will earn the right to represent Africa at the Intercontinental playoffs, slated for March 2026 in North America, with Mexico reportedly hosting matches at two venues.
Nigeria secured their playoff spot by finishing as one of the four best second-placed teams. Heading into their final Group C match against Benin Republic in Uyo, the Super Eagles needed a decisive win to qualify. After South Africa’s Bafana Bafana clinched the top spot in Group C with a 3-0 victory over Rwanda, Nigeria’s qualification hopes rested on an emphatic result.
Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick and a stoppage-time goal from Frank Onyeka delivered a convincing 4-0 triumph over Benin, ensuring Nigeria’s place in the playoffs.
The six-team playoff tournament features representatives from Asia, CAF, CONMEBOL, and Oceania, alongside two teams from CONCACAF, and will determine the final two spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The format sees the four lowest-ranked teams in the FIFA World Rankings face off in single-elimination matches, with the winners advancing to challenge the top two ranked teams.
The victorious sides from these final encounters will earn World Cup qualification.
