The race for the Nigeria World Cup qualification is far from over. Despite South Africa’s strong position in the group, the Super Eagles of Nigeria still have a real chance to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff stage — depending on results from other African qualifiers.
According to multiple sources, as the Nigeria World Cup qualification battle heats up, the latest CAF playoff standings show Gabon (16 pts) and Burkina Faso (15 pts) leading the pack for two of the four available playoff spots. The remaining two positions are still being contested by Niger (15 pts), Cameroon (14 pts), DR Congo (13 pts), Uganda (12 pts), and Nigeria (12 pts) — making the fight for qualification even tighter.
Read more World Cup Qualification update here.
Nigeria’s Path to the 2026 World Cup Qualification
Nigeria currently sits 10th in the inter-group ranking with 12 points and a +3 goal difference, but the Nigeria World Cup qualification dream is still alive under certain scenarios.
1. Direct Qualification Route:
- Nigeria must defeat Benin Republic by at least one goal (1-0 or more).
- South Africa must either lose or draw their last game.
2. Playoff Qualification Route (if South Africa Wins):
- Nigeria must beat Benin Republic by four goals or more to improve their goal difference and surpass Burkina Faso in the standings.
- At least two of Cameroon, DR Congo, or Uganda must lose.
- A draw between DR Congo and Uganda would also favor Nigeria’s playoff hopes.
The Road Ahead for Nigeria
While Niger and Burkina Faso have completed their matches, Nigeria World Cup qualification depends heavily on results elsewhere. Cameroon will host Angola, DR Congo plays Sudan at home, and Uganda faces a tough away fixture against Algeria.
For Nigeria, everything comes down to their final clash in Abidjan. A strong victory against Benin Republic could keep the Nigeria World Cup qualification dream alive. However, a narrow win or a draw might mean missing consecutive World Cups for the first time since 1994.
With four playoff spots still open, the Super Eagles’ destiny now depends on both their performance and the outcomes in Yaoundé, Kinshasa, and Algiers.
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