Nigeria to battle Gabon in World Cup play-off semi-final

The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs, following the conclusion of the qualifying group stage.

Nigeria booked their spot after a dominant 4–0 win over Benin Republic on Tuesday, October 14, while Gabon sealed second place in Group F with a 2–0 victory against Burundi.

In other fixtures, DR Congo edged Sudan 1–0 to finish runners-up in Group B behind Senegal, while Cameroon claimed second place in Group D behind Cape Verde. DR Congo will face Cameroon in the other semi-final encounter.

The play-offs, featuring the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups, are scheduled to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16. Both semi-final matches will hold on November 13, with the winners clashing three days later in a single-leg final.

The overall winner will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026 for a chance to qualify for the World Cup finals in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

All matches will be played as single-leg knockouts, with extra time and penalties to determine the winner if necessary. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) will announce the specific venues in due course.

Morocco will host the mini-tournament, which offers Africa an extra opportunity to secure a place at the expanded 48-team World Cup.