The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Nigeria will face Gabon in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup Inter-Continental Playoffs in Rabat, Morocco.
The Super Eagles will play the Panthers on Thursday, 13 November, with kickoff set for 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT). The match will be staged at either the El Barid Stadium or Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex, with the final venue to be decided by a draw on 30 October.
The mini-tournament, running from 13 to 16 November, will feature Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo competing for one ticket to the Inter-Continental Playoff in March 2026 Africa’s last chance to reach the expanded World Cup in North America.
Super Eagles. Photo Credit: NFF/COMMS
Nigeria’s head coach Eric Chelle has been credited with reviving the team’s qualification hopes since taking charge. Under Chelle, the Super Eagles secured their first win on matchday five, after José Peseiro drew the opening two games and Findi George managed one draw and one defeat in his brief spell.
Chelle guided the team to an unbeaten finish, recording four wins and two draws, as Nigeria placed second in Group C with 17 points. The three-time African champions are now hoping to return to the World Cup after missing out on Qatar 2022.
Their opponents, Gabon, are chasing history. The Panthers have never qualified for a World Cup, but finished just one point behind African champions Ivory Coast in Group F. They remain inspired by their legendary captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, one of Africa’s all-time great forwards.
Auba scored 4 goals and picked up a red card to help Gabon to a 4-3 victory against Gambia. Photo Credit: Getty Images
This will be the 10th meeting between Nigeria and Gabon. The Super Eagles have won five of the previous nine encounters, drawn three, and lost only once, a 2-1 defeat in 1989 World Cup qualifying. Coincidentally, neither side reached Italia ’90.
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Nigeria’s most recent win came in 2005, a 2-0 victory in another World Cup qualifier, though both teams again fell short of qualification.
The second semi-final will see Cameroon face DR Congo later that evening at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT). The winners of both semi-finals will meet in the final on Sunday, 16 November, with kickoff at 20:00 local time.
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Only one nation will advance, a single ticket to the Inter-Continental Playoff, and potentially Africa’s final seat on the flight to North America in 2026.
