Nigeria take on Gabon in World Cup playoff
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will take on Gabon in the 2025 FIFA World Cup qualification playoff semi-final today at the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
Both sides are just two wins away from keeping their World Cup dream alive, with the victor set to face either Cameroon or DR Congo for a place in the Intercontinental playoffs.
Nigeria received a major boost in their qualification hopes after FIFA deducted three points from Group C leaders South Africa, for fielding an ineligible player.
However, that twist ultimately was not enough to secure automatic qualification, as Bafana Bafana sealed top spot with a final-round win over Rwanda.
The three-time African champions still managed to finish among the four best second-placed teams after wrapping up their campaign with an emphatic 4-0 victory over Benin Republic.
Eric Chelle’s men accumulated 17 points from 10 matches, boasting a goal difference of plus seven, having recorded four wins, five draws, and one defeat.
It was a campaign that once again highlighted Nigeria’s inconsistency, though they remain one of Africa’s most talented sides on paper.
Having missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, another failure would mark the first time the Super Eagles have missed consecutive tournaments since making their debut in the United States in 1994.
Still, there are encouraging signs as Nigeria remain unbeaten in their last six matches across all competitions, winning their previous two, and they enter this playoff with renewed momentum and a point to prove.
Gabon, meanwhile, qualified for the playoff as runners-up in Group F, also finishing just one point behind group winners Ivory Coast.
The Panthers collected 25 points from 10 matches – winning eight, drawing one, and losing just once while scoring 22 goals and conceding nine.
Their run has been built on a solid defensive structure and the experience of key figures blended with exciting new talent, making them a dangerous opponent for anyone in this phase.
Historically, the Super Eagles hold the upper hand in this fixture, winning three of the last five meetings between the sides, including a 2-0 victory in their most recent encounter back in 2005.
In their nine encounters across all competitions, Gabon have only defeated Nigeria once, while Nigeria have won five times and three matches have ended in draws.
The latest FIFA World Rankings also underline the gulf in pedigree between the two nations, with Nigeria sitting 41st, while Gabon are ranked 77th.
Nigeria should have enough quality to control proceedings to move one step closer to the World Cup.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Cameroon and Congo DR go head to head today
The stakes could not be higher as Cameroon and Congo DR go head to head at Al-Barid Stadium today in the semi-final of the World Cup qualifiers’ four-team playoff in Africa.
This would be the first encounter between the two countries since January 2021, when the Indomitable Lions emerged 2-1 winners in the African Nations Championship quarter-final.
Cameroon hold the record for the most appearances by an African nation at the global tournament, yet the eight-time World Cup participants must now navigate a long road to a ninth mundial after an inconsistent qualifying campaign.
The Indomitable Lions surrendered their lead at the top of Group D, having struggled to turn draws into wins, with the goalless draw against an unfancied Eswatini side on matchday five standing out as the most disappointing result at the time.
With a place in the final against the winner between Nigeria and Gabon up for grabs, Cameroon enter this clash buoyed by their strong form on foreign soil, having claimed victory in four of five away games in 2025 (L1).
Congo DR secured a spot among the top four runners-up following victory over Sudan on the final matchday of the preliminaries, though the Congolese would be left to rue their missed chance to secure direct qualification.
The Congolese face a daunting task against a side they have failed to beat in nine previous encounters across friendlies and competitive fixtures (L6), though none of those defeats came in the World Cup qualifiers.
Encounters in the tournament have been more closely contested — both nations have met nine times, with Congo claiming three wins and losing four (D2).
Both teams appear evenly matched in terms of player quality, but Cameroon could edge this one given their pedigree and the near-full availability of key players.
Credit: sportsmole.co.uk
Here is all to know about the African World Cup 2026 qualifiers playoffs
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) playoffs begin on Thursday with four teams – Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – slugging it out to decide which nation will progress to the FIFA intercontinental playoff tournament in March, which is the final hurdle for qualification into the World Cup 2026 in North America.
The four teams were the best runners-up across the nine African qualifying groups – and the playoff winner will keep alive their nation’s hopes of becoming the continent’s 10th representative at next year’s finals.
Where are the African playoffs being held?
Morocco’s capital Rabat will host the African World Cup playoffs, using three different stadiums for the three matches.
Al Barid Stadium and Moulay El Hassan Stadium will be used for the semifinals.
The newly built Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will host the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on January 18, will be the venue for the CAF playoff final.
How was the draw made for the CAF playoff matches?
The draw was based on the current FIFA world rankings of the four teams as of October 17.
Nigeria was ranked highest (#41), followed by Cameroon (#54), Congo DR (#60) and Gabon (#77).
Based on the rankings, FIFA implemented a No.1 (Nigeria) vs No.4 seed (Gabon) matchup for the first semifinal and a No.2 (Cameroon) vs No.3 (Congo DR) second semi.
What does the African playoff winner still need to do for World Cup qualification?
The winner of Sunday’s CAF playoff will progress to a six-team FIFA intercontinental playoff scheduled for March in Mexico to decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.
The intercontinental playoff will feature two teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and one team apiece from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
