Having missed the automatic group ticket to the 2026 World Cup, Nigeria’s Super Eagles now face a crucial test as they prepare to take on the Panthers of Gabon in the semi-finals of the African play-offs.
The clash offers the Eagles another lifeline to reach football’s grandest stage.
Nigeria secured their play-off berth after an emphatic 4–0 victory over Benin, sealing their position among the continent’s top runners-up. Gabon also earned their place with a confident 2–0 win over Burundi, while Ivory Coast topped their group to qualify automatically.
Joining Nigeria and Gabon in the play-offs are DR Congo and Cameroon. DR Congo edged Sudan 1–0 to finish second behind Senegal in Group B, while Cameroon claimed the runners-up spot in Group D behind Cape Verde.
The four best runners-up from the African qualifiers will battle it out in Morocco from November 13 to 16. Nigeria, expected to be the highest-ranked team among them when FIFA releases its updated rankings, will face Gabon in one semi-final, while Cameroon takes on DR Congo in the other.
The semi-finals are scheduled for November 13, with the winners meeting 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.
If matches end level after regulation time, extra time and penalties will determine the winner. For the Super Eagles, the task is simple yet demanding , overcome Gabon and keep alive their dream of flying the Nigerian flag on football’s biggest stage.