Nigeria will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the African section of the 2026 FIFA World Cup play-offs after qualifying by defeating Benin 4–0.
Gabon secured their spot as runners-up in Group F with a 2–0 win over Burundi, while Ivory Coast topped the group. Other qualifiers include DR Congo, who beat Sudan, and Cameroon, who finished second in their groups. The semi-finals will be held in Morocco from November 13 to 16, with Nigeria expected to face the lowest-ranked team, Gabon.
While the winners will compete in a final on November 16 for a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs in March 2026, which could lead to qualification for the World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the U.S, the tournament will be a knockout format, hosted by Morocco, with matches decided by extra time or penalties if needed. Additionally, All nine African group winners have already qualified directly, and the play-offs offer Africa a chance to add one more team to the expanded 48-team World Cup.
Leave a Reply