Nigeria’s push to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup remains alive, with the Super Eagles potentially needing one or two more matches to seal qualification.
Potentially two more matches — but it could also be just one.
1) CAF Play-off Final – Nigeria vs DR Congo
- Scheduled for Sunday, November 16 on neutral ground in Morocco.
- Winner advances to the inter-confederation play-offs.
2) Inter-Confederation Play-offs – March 2026 (Mexico)
This stage involves six teams from five continents competing for two final World Cup tickets.
Here is the key caveat:
Depending on FIFA rankings at the time, Nigeria may only need to play ONE match in Mexico.
- The two highest-ranked teams in the play-offs skip the semi-finals and go straight into the final round.
- The four lower-ranked teams must play an extra match (semi-finals) before facing those top teams.
What this means for Nigeria
- If Nigeria is among the top two ranked teams:
They will play only one match in Mexico. Win it, and they qualify. - If Nigeria is not among the top two ranked teams:
They must play two matches — a semi-final and a final — to qualify.
That means the Nigeria must win three consecutive knockout games in total, one already done against Gabon, potentially two still to go to book their place at the World Cup for the first time since 2018.