Both Nigeria national football team and Cameroon national football team face serious off-field disruptions that could undermine their campaigns in the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to a report from ESPN, Africa’s expanded World Cup qualifying playoffs scheduled to be held in Morocco this week will test not just the players from Nigeria and Cameroon but also the stability of their football federations and camps. With nine guaranteed African slots for the 2026 tournament, the pressure is intense.
The report outlines that Nigeria—after a difficult group-stage campaign in which they collected just three points from the first 12 available—ended second in Group C and now face a do-or-die scenario. Meanwhile, Cameroon, eight-time World Cup participants, finished four points behind Cape Verde in their group and are confronting mounting organisational chaos.
In Cameroon’s case, the conflict between the national federation and their head coach spilled into the public domain: the squad list was only published four days before the playoff following disagreement. For Nigeria, training boycotts and payment disputes have emerged, with players refusing to practise because they “have allegedly not been paid thousands of dollars they’re owed.”
Against that backdrop, the report warns that neither nation can afford the distraction: the playoff format offers no margin for error, with single-leg ties and neutral venues meaning one slip could cost qualification. While Nigeria may boast players such as Victor Osimhen, Alex Iwobi and William Troost‑Ekong, the report highlights that Cameroon’s off-field instability could blunt even their individual quality.
As the continent’s playoff drama unfolds, the story suggests that administrative breakdowns may prove as dangerous as any on-pitch rival.