The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced the details of the African play-off tournament that will determine the continent’s final representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup (to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico). (Vanguard News)
Key details
The venue for the four-team mini-tournament is Morocco — which also hosts the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. (Leadership News)
The semi-finals are scheduled for Thursday 13 November 2025, and the final for Sunday 16 November 2025. (Vanguard News)
The tournament features the four best runners-up from the nine qualification groups. (Foot Africa)
The draw and seeding are based on the October 2025 FIFA World Rankings. The top-ranked side among the four faces the fourth-ranked, while the second and third ranked meet in the other semi. (Vanguard News)
Match rules: In the event of a draw, the tie goes to extra time and then penalties if needed. Teams are allowed five substitutions, with a sixth permitted in extra time. (Leadership News)
Fixtures & opponents (so far)
According to CAF’s release, the match-ups are:
Semi-final 1: Nigeria national football team (the Super Eagles) vs Gabon national football team. (Africa Top Sports)
Semi-final 2: Cameroon national football team (the Indomitable Lions) vs DR Congo national football team (the Leopards). (Africa Top Sports)
The winner of the final on 16 November will proceed to the inter-continental play-off (scheduled for March 2026) to challenge for Africa’s 10th World Cup spot. (Vanguard News)
What it means for Nigeria
Nigeria’s path to the World Cup now requires navigating a knockout mini-tournament on neutral ground — not simply securing a top spot in the group stage.
The Super Eagles face a high-stakes semi-final against Gabon, with minimal margin for error.
Success means not only winning the semi-final but also the final to earn a place in the inter-continental play-off.
The format underscores the importance of preparation, squad depth, and performing under pressure in a one-off match setting.
Looking ahead
The draw order (i.e., which semi-final pair is played when) will depend on the ranking outcome in October 2025.
Venue specifics (stadium(s) in Morocco) and kick-off times have yet to be fully detailed publicly by CAF. (Foot Africa)
For football fans and broadcasters, watching how Nigeria and the other three competing nations adjust to this format will be crucial.
This set-up also raises the stakes for the qualifying campaign, making every group match and ranking point essential.
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