Victor Osimhen’s hat-trick has secured Nigeria a place in the CAF playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a commanding 4-0 victory over Benin in Uyo on October 14.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles have reignited their World Cup ambitions with a decisive win that confirmed their place among the four best second-placed teams in Africa’s qualifying stage.
Despite missing automatic qualification, their 17 points and +7 goal difference were enough to edge Benin and claim a playoff place.
South Africa topped Group C with 18 points after defeating Rwanda 3-0, qualifying directly for the 2026 tournament. Benin’s loss dropped them to third, ending their campaign.
Osimhen leads with clinical finishing
Osimhen delivered a commanding performance, scoring a hat-trick. Frank Onyeka added a stoppage-time goal to seal Nigeria’s most dominant victory of the qualifying matches.
The win also provided redemption for a team criticised earlier in the campaign for inconsistent form and off-field turbulence, including a near-tragic flight incident before their final group fixture.
CAF playoff format confirmed
According to CAF and FIFA, the playoffs will take place in Morocco this November. The four best runners-up will play two single-leg semifinals, seeded by FIFA rankings, followed by a single-leg final. The winner of the final will represent Africa in the inter-confederation playoffs.
Based on FIFA’s September rankings, Nigeria (36th globally) is expected to face Gabon (80th) in one semifinal, while Cameroon (63rd) meets Burkina Faso (61st) in the other. This depends on whether DR Congo loses their ongoing match against Sudan. However, if DR Congo wins, Nigeria will play DR Congo, and Gabon will play against Cameroon. The winners will then battle for a place in the intercontinental playoff round.
Pathway to the 2026 World Cup
The inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026 will feature six teams—one from each of CAF, AFC, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL, and OFC, with one additional CONCACAF side. Two of these teams will ultimately qualify for the World Cup.
Nigeria’s position in the top 40 of FIFA’s rankings gives a competitive edge in seeding. Yet, the challenge ahead remains steep, as the playoffs feature one-match eliminations with no margin for error.
Africa’s growing representation
The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature 48 teams. Africa has been allocated nine direct spots, with a tenth possible through the inter-confederation playoffs.
For Nigeria, a successful playoff campaign would mark their return to football’s biggest stage after missing the 2022 edition. Their last World Cup appearance came in Russia 2018, where they exited in the group stage.
Nigeria’s chances of progressing from the CAF playoffs exceed 60 percent, given by their ranking and depth. Yet, execution will be critical. With Osimhen in form and the team regaining cohesion, the Super Eagles now stand just few matches away from redemption on football’s grandest platform.
