World Cup 2026 - African playoffs: Nigeria's journey in the qualifiers | OneFootball

Nigeria's journey in the U17 World Cup qualifiers

Nigeria/@premiumtimesng

Nigeria is one of the four national teams set to compete in the African playoffs, aiming for a spot in the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff Tournament for the 2026 World Cup.

The Super Eagles will take on Gabon's Panthers on November 13, 2025, in Rabat, hoping to clinch victory and secure a showdown against the winner between Cameroon and DR Congo three days later in the final.

To reach the playoffs, Nigeria had to fight hard. Victor Osimhen and his teammates crushed Benin 4-0 on the final day to snatch second place.

Finishing second in Group C with 17 points, just behind South Africa (18 pts) and ahead of Benin (17 pts), thanks to a superior goal difference (+7 versus +1), Eric Chelle's men navigated a challenging qualifying phase.

Nigeria managed only four wins, alongside five draws and a single defeat. They clinched the final playoff ticket as the fourth-best runner-up behind Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon.

For the record, they edged their way through thanks to a better goal difference (+7) than Burkina Faso (+6) and Niger (+1).