Nigeria to Face Gabon in 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoff in Morocco

Posted : 15 October 2025

Nigeria will meet Gabon in the CAF playoff tournament in Morocco as the Super Eagles keep their hopes alive for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced the fixtures for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa Playoff Tournament, with Nigeria set to face Gabon for a place in the final round. The matches will be held in Morocco from November 13 to 16, offering the Super Eagles a renewed chance to secure a World Cup ticket.

This draw means Nigeria avoids a clash with long-time rivals Cameroon, who also remain in contention. Gabon and Cameroon currently rank above Nigeria among the best second-placed teams across the nine qualification groups, based on CAF’s revised ranking system following Eritrea’s withdrawal from the qualifiers.

Nigeria accumulated 15 points with a +7 goal difference, edging Burkina Faso, who also finished with 15 points but a goal difference of +6. Only group winners have earned automatic qualification for next summer’s World Cup finals in North America, while the playoff gives second-placed sides one final opportunity. Either Burkina Faso or DR Congo—depending on the outcome of DR Congo’s match against Sudan—will join Nigeria and Gabon in Morocco.

The winner of the African playoff will advance to the six-team Intercontinental Playoff scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico’s cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey. Two teams from that stage will qualify for the expanded World Cup, joining Bolivia, New Caledonia, two Central American nations, and one team from Asia.

Nigeria’s place in the playoff was secured after a resounding 4-0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo, powered by a hat-trick from Victor Osimhen and a late strike from substitute Frank Onyeka. The win confirmed Nigeria’s spot among the top four runners-up, ensuring their participation in the CAF playoff tournament.

Osimhen opened the scoring in the second minute, converting Samuel Chukwueze’s pass, before heading home another goal in the 36th minute. The Galatasaray forward completed his hat-trick in the second half, taking his national tally to 29 goals in 44 matches—just nine shy of Rashidi Yekini’s all-time Nigerian record. Onyeka sealed the emphatic win with a late thunderbolt in stoppage time.

Although South Africa’s 2-0 victory over Rwanda denied Nigeria an automatic berth, the Super Eagles’ commanding performance kept their qualification hopes alive. As the playoff approaches, the team will look to carry that same momentum into Morocco, where a win over Gabon would move them one step closer to the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.

Nigeria to Face Gabon in 2026 FIFA World Cup Playoff in Morocco

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