Nigeria’s Super Eagles will face Gabon in the semi-finals of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs, with the encounter scheduled for Thursday, November 13, 2025, in Morocco.

The match marks the first step in a two-stage playoff that will determine which African nation progresses to the Intercontinental Playoffs, the final route to next year’s World Cup in North America.

Gabon booked their place in the playoffs after finishing second in Group F with 25 points, just one point behind AFCON champions Côte d’Ivoire (26 points).

Nigeria, meanwhile, advanced as one of the four best runners-up, following a dramatic turnaround in their final Group C fixture.

The Super Eagles thrashed Benin Republic 4–0 in Uyo, courtesy of a Victor Osimhen hat-trick and a Frank Onyeka stoppage-time strike, to seal their playoff spot.

The victory came after South Africa secured top position in the group with a 3–0 win over Rwanda, ensuring Nigeria’s only path to the World Cup went through the playoffs.

Should the Super Eagles defeat Gabon, they will face the winner of the second semi-final between Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final on Sunday, November 16, 2025.

The winner of that final will represent Africa in the Intercontinental Playoffs, which are slated for March 2026 in North America, reportedly at two venues in Mexico.

The Intercontinental Playoffs will feature six teams, one each from Asia, CAF, CONMEBOL, and Oceania, and two from CONCACAF, competing for the last two slots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The format will see the bottom four teams (based on FIFA rankings) drawn into two single-elimination matches, with the winners advancing to face the top two seeds.

Nigeria are seeking to return to the World Cup stage after missing out on Qatar 2022, where they were eliminated by Ghana on away goals.