2026 World Cup qualifiers: Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon set for epic showdown in African playoffs
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has officially announced that Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon will compete in the African playoff tournament to decide the continent’s final representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The four sides secured their places in the playoffs after finishing as the best second-placed teams from the group stage of the qualifiers. The mini-tournament will be staged in Morocco in November 2025.
The semifinals are set for November 13, with the final scheduled for November 16. The eventual winner will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026, where they will battle teams from other continents for one of the remaining World Cup slots.
Meanwhile, nine African nations have already booked their spots at the 2026 finals. They include Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, South Africa, Senegal, and Ivory Coast.
The highly anticipated playoffs are expected to deliver thrilling football as four continental heavyweights chase Africa’s last ticket to the global stage.
