2026 World Cup Play-offs: Nigeria vs Gabon
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| Victor Osimhen celebrating his goal against Benin Republic |
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Gabon in the semi-finals of the African play-offs for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria's Super Eagles, led by coach Eric Chelle, have advanced to the playoffs as one of the four best runners-up...
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Gabon in the World Cup playoff semi-finals. This match is a crucial step towards securing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled for November 13 in Morocco.
A win will propel them to the final, where they'll face either DR Congo or Cameroon, with the ultimate victor advancing to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026.
Nigeria's Super Eagles will take on Gabon in the semi-finals of the African play-offs for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. This comes after Nigeria's impressive 4-0 win over Benin Republic, with Victor Osimhen scoring a hat-trick, secured their place in the play-offs.
Play-off Schedule and Format
The play-off tournament will feature four teams: Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo. Nigeria will face Gabon on November 13, while Cameroon will take on DR Congo on the same day. The winners of these semi-finals will meet in the final on November 16, with the victory advancing to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026.
The winner of the African play-offs will join the six-team inter-confederation play-off tournament in Mexico. The top two teams from this tournament will secure the last two spots for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria's Super Eagles, led by coach Eric Chelle, have advanced to the playoffs as one of the four best runners-up. Due to the uneven group sizes, results against the last-placed team in each group were excluded from consideration.
The Super Eagles will face Gabon, led by former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, on November 13th in Morocco. This high-stakes match will determine which team progresses to the next round.
A win in the upcoming match would propel them to the final, where they'll face either DR Congo or Cameroon. The ultimate victor will then advance to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026, held in Mexico's cities, Guadalajara and Monterrey.
Inter-Confederation Play-Offs Details
The play-offs will feature six teams competing for two World Cup spots:
Teams
- Bolivia (CONMEBOL)
- New Caledonia (OFC)
Two teams from Central America (CONCACAF)
One team from Asia (AFC)
The winner of the African playoff (CAF)
Format: Single-leg knockout matches
Location: Guadalajara and Monterrey, Mexico
Dates: March 2026
Objective: Determine the last two teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
The play-offs will feature Bolivia, New Caledonia, two teams from Central America, and one team from Asia, with the African playoff winner completing the lineup. This tournament will determine the last two teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
If the scores are level at the end of the 90 minutes of regulation, the match will proceed to 30 minutes of extra time. During this period, each team will be allowed a sixth substitution. If the scores still remain tied after extra time, the winner will be determined by a penalty shootout.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The match is scheduled for November 13, with the winner advancing to the final on November 16. The winner of the final will secure a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026.
Nigeria's international friendly against Venezuela, initially scheduled for the United States in November, has been canceled due to the World Cup playoff schedule.
The Super Eagles' last World Cup appearance was in Russia 2018, where they were eliminated in the group stage. The team, coached by Gernot Rohr, struggled to progress from a group featuring Croatia, Iceland, and reigning world champions Argentina.
Their attempt to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar was thwarted by Ghana's Black Stars in a dramatic two-legged playoff. The matches, played in Cape Coast and Abuja, ended in heartbreak for Nigeria.
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