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Nigeria will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African zone play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after the conclusion of the qualification group stages on Tuesday.
The Super Eagles confirmed their play-off berth with an emphatic 4–0 win over Benin Republic. Gabon secured second place in Group F by defeating Burundi 2–0, aided by Ivory Coast’s commanding victory over Kenya, which saw them top the group.
In other results, DR Congo edged Sudan 1–0 to finish as runners-up in Group B behind Senegal, while Cameroon advanced from Group D, finishing second to Cape Verde.
The play-offs, featuring the four best runners-up from Africa’s nine qualifying groups, are set to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16. Nigeria, who are expected to maintain the highest FIFA ranking among the four play-off teams when the new rankings are released on October 23, will face the lowest-ranked side, Gabon. The other semi-final will pit Cameroon against DR Congo.
Both semi-final ties will be single-leg matches on November 13, with the winners advancing to a one-off final on November 16. The victor of the mini-tournament will earn the right to compete in the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026 for a chance to qualify for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
All matches will follow a single-leg format, with extra time and penalties deciding the winner if necessary. Morocco has been confirmed as the host for the play-offs, which provide Africa one last chance to add an extra representative to the expanded 48-team World Cup.
All nine group winners from the African qualifiers have already secured their spots at the 2026 finals, while the play-offs will determine whether one additional team can earn a place via the inter-continental route.
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