The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Gabon in the opening semi-final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African Playoff Tournament, scheduled to take place in Rabat, Morocco.
According to CAF, the mini-tournament — which runs from November 13 to 16, 2025 — will determine the final African nation to compete for the continent’s last slot at the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup to be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The four teams confirmed for the playoffs are Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).
The Super Eagles will lock horns with Gabon at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT) in the first semi-final, while Cameroon will take on DR Congo at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT). The matches will be played at either the El Barid Stadium or the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex, with the exact venues to be decided by a draw on October 30.
CAF disclosed that the grand final will take place on Sunday, November 16, 2025, at the Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, with kick-off set for 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
The winner of the four-nation playoff will proceed to the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-off in March 2026, where they will battle for Africa’s 10th and final ticket to the World Cup.
The showdown promises to be a tense contest, as Nigeria seeks redemption
