By Abiola Olawale
The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to battle Gabon’s Panthers in the semi-finals of the African zone play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The development comes hot on the heels of Nigeria’s 4-0 thrashing of the Benin Republic.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) confirmed the pairings, slotting the three-time African champions against Gabon.
This single-leg semi-final, scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Morocco, pits Nigeria’s star-studded squad against a resilient Gabon side hungry for their first-ever World Cup appearance.
Victory here would send the Eagles soaring into the play-off final on November 16, with the ultimate prize: a shot at the inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026, where Africa’s extra berth in the expanded 48-team extravaganza hangs in the balance.
DR Congo also sealed their qualification with a narrow 1–0 win over Sudan to finish runners-up in Group B behind Senegal, with Cameroon joining them after placing second in Group D behind Cape Verde.
The play-offs, which will feature the four best runners-up from the nine African qualifying groups, are scheduled to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16.
Cameroon and DR Congo will contest the other semi-final.
Both semi-finals will be played on 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.
