Super Eagles Book Spot in CAF Playoff as 2026 World Cup Race Heats Up
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have sealed their place in the CAF Four-Team Playoff Tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a commanding 4-0 victory over Benin Republic in Uyo.
The emphatic win, inspired by a Victor Osimhen hat-trick and a late strike from Frank Onyeka, ensured Nigeria finished as one of the best second-placed teams in the African qualifiers.
Under the Confederation of African Football’s new format, only group winners advance automatically to the World Cup, while select second-placed teams progress to a special playoff round.
With 15 points and a +7 goal difference, Nigeria ranked among the top contenders, joining Gabon and Cameroon in the playoff bracket.
A fourth team either Burkina Faso or DR Congo will complete the lineup.
The playoff tournament is scheduled to take place in Morocco from November 13 to 16, 2025, where the four teams will battle for one slot in the Intercontinental Playoff to be held in Mexico (Guadalajara and Monterrey) in March 2026.
The eventual African winner will face Bolivia, New Caledonia, and representatives from Central America and Asia for one of the final tickets to the World Cup finals in USA, Canada, and Mexico.