2026 World Cup qualifiers: Nigeria won’t have it easy in the playoffs – Ex-Super forward Victor Ikpeba

Former Nigerian forward Victor Ikpeba has charged the Super Eagles to prepare for a tough challenge in the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

After missing out on automatic qualification, the Super Eagles must go through the playoff route in hopes of earning a ticket to play at next year’s World Cup.

Per the Confederation of African Football (CAF), 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.

Speaking ahead of the playoffs, Victor Ikpeba said he believes it won’t be easy for Nigeria.

“People are disappointed. We should top our group with the potential we have. I can’t wait for the playoffs. The games with Gabon and Cameroon are spicy. These are the great derbies in African football,” he said as quoted by dailypost.ng.

Ikpeba added, “If we have to play Cameroon, that is another struggle, another spicy game. It’s not going to come easy, in this playoff, no.

“I wish our boys well. All the best of luck, and if they get to these games with the same mentality, I think we will get through it.”

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.