The most recent games of Nigeria's FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign have held more promise, and that has given rise to the belief that the longer route could bring joy and the ticket to the global showpiece next year.

For the first time in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Super Eagles won back-to-back games, first defeating Lesotho in Polokwane and then triumphing over Benin during the last international break.

The results mean the team heads into the CAF World Cup qualifiers playoffs in his spirits and form, which is very much needed given the impressive performances of their opponent, Gabon, who narrowly missed out on first place in Group F.

It is war that awaits the Super Eagles in the mini-tournament, but on paper, they are huge favourites, ahead of the other three, as they are the best-ranked team by FIFA. Yet, this early part is the most challenging as it gets into the playoffs.

CAF World Cup qualifiers playoffs: The odds 

Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo, and Gabon. This is the order of ranking of the four teams in the race to emerge as the representative of CAF in the FIFA World Cup playoff finals in March 2026.

Nigeria

Ranked 41, Nigeria was the weakest of all these teams during the qualifications phase, and could have easily missed out had it not been for Eritrea's earlier withdrawal from the tournament.

Under three different coaches, the three-time African champions finally nicked a second-place finish on the final matchday, and got lucky with the point earned against the bottom teams' deduction to finish in the top four for the best second-placed teams.

It was as awkward as it got, but after going unbeaten in the final two international breaks, winning three of their final four games of the qualifiers, including the last two and a 4-0 thrashing of Benin, their hunger for the ticket is hardly questionable.

Yet, the most difficult part of the story is always ahead, and if they manage to top the CAF playoffs, their congratulatory wishes yet remain pending until they complete the job in the Six Nations tournament come March.

Even though it is Gabon who stands in their way next, Cameroon stands out as their biggest threat, but the two heavyweights will have to get the job done in their respective semi-finals before thinking of a potential meeting.

Gabon

Nevertheless, Gabon is a worthy opponent for the Super Eagles. The Panthers earned 25 points from 10 qualifying games and finished one short of their group winners, the Ivory Coast.

They scored goals for fun and have 11 in three of their last four games, with captain and star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang alone netting four against Gambia, while Denis Bouanga also bagged a hat-trick against Seychelles earlier in September.

They have the individuals to wreak havoc in attack, and in the form of Galatasaray midfielder Mario Lemina and Guelor Kanga, they have enough to bully an unstable Super Eagles midfield.

Since a 5-1 loss to Morocco almost a year ago, Thierry Mouyouma's team has remained unbeaten in competitive games, claiming six victories and keeping five clean sheets. Maybe least ranked, but on form, they are the best of all four teams.

Cameroon and DR Congo 

Cameroon's first assignment is to tackle DR Congo, who were second to Gabon in the proper qualifiers as they amassed 22 points from 10 games, two behind Group winners Senegal.

The Indomitable Lions finished four points behind Cape Verde on 19, and head into the playoffs with one win in their last three, including a loss to Cape Verde, which cost them their top status in Group D.

DR Congo won three and lost one of their final four qualifying game, and the costly defeat came against direct rivals Senegal, where they surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 in Kinshasa.

Head 2 Head

Nigeria vs. Gabon

Since a 2-2 draw in their first-ever meeting in August 1965, Nigeria and Gabon have clashed seven more times, with the West African winning five and losing one.

Gabon's only victory in this fixture came in the second leg of their World Cup qualifiers meeting in June of 1989, when they scored two first-half goals, but Samson Siasia's second-half goal for Nigeria only proved consolation in a 2-1 loss.

Nigeria has been unbeaten in the four meetings that have followed, winning three, including a 2-0 scoreline in their most recent meeting, at the World Cup qualifiers in March 2005.

Cameroon vs. DR Congo

These two nations have clashed more frequently, with Cameroon dominant with 10 wins and six draws in their 21 meetings over the years.

DR Congo dominated their earliest meetings, winning four and drawing one in six meetings from the last century.

However, the tide turned in favour of Cameroon since this century kicked off, and DR Congo only has one win out of 15, suffering nine defeats.

Cameroon has also won all of its last three meetings.

Squad List

Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars), Maduka Okoye (Udinese).

Defenders: William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood), Calvin Bassey (Fulham), Semi Ajayi (Hull City), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City), Benjamin Fredericks (Dender).

Midfielders: Alex Iwobi (Fulham), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge), Frank Onyeka (Brentford), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution).

Forwards: Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla), Tolu Arokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Akor Adams (Sevilla), Olakunle Olusegun (Pari Nizhny Novgorod), Moses Simon (Paris FC).

Challenges 

According to reports, the Super Eagles of Nigeria boycotted their training session in Rabat, Morocco ahead of the 2026 World Cup playoff clash with Gabon due to unpaid allowances and bonuses.

Players and staff, already frustrated by lodging issues captured in a video by Alex Iwobi, refused to leave their hotel rooms until the outstanding payments dating back to 2023 (and in some cases 2019) were addressed.

The protest highlights long-standing financial management problems within the Nigeria Football Federation and comes at a crucial moment for the squad’s preparation.

What's next after the Playoffs 

The winner will represent CAF in the World Cup playoff finals, where five other nations from different continents except Europe will also be present to stake a claim at the two available tickets.

Should Nigeria progress from here, the chances of reaching the finals will improve as they will only play one match in the playoffs finals, because they would rank ahead of at least four other teams in the mini tournament.

The Super Eagles must get the job done in Rabat in the coming days to avoid missing out on back-to-back FIFA World Cup finals since their first-ever tournament appearance in 1994.