2026 World Cup: Nigeria to face Gabon in CAF play-off
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has released the fixtures and dates for the 2026 FIFA World Cup African play-off, as four nations vie for one remaining continental ticket.
CAF confirmed that Morocco, the host nation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), will also stage the play-offs, which will determine the final team to advance to the intercontinental play-offs.
Following their emphatic 4-0 win over Benin Republic in Uyo, thanks to Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick, the Super Eagles of Nigeria secured a place in the play-offs, joining Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and Gabon.
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According to CAF’s schedule, the play-off fixtures will take place on November 13, 2025, with Cameroon vs. DR Congo and Nigeria vs. Gabon.
Both matches will be one-legged ties played on neutral ground in Morocco. The winners of the two encounters will meet in the final on November 16, 2025, with the winner earning the sole African slot in the Intercontinental Play-off.
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CAF also confirmed that the play-off pairings were determined based on FIFA’s World Rankings as of October, with the highest-ranked team playing the lowest-ranked, and the second-highest-ranked team facing the second-lowest-ranked.
The African play-off winner will advance to the Six-Team Intercontinental Play-off, set to be held in the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey in March 2026.
The mini-tournament will feature Bolivia, New Caledonia, two teams from Central America, and one from Asia, with two nations ultimately qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
