3 weeks ago
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As the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers caput into the last stretch, Nigeria inactive has a glimmer of anticipation to beforehand to the CAF playoff round: adjacent if South Africa wins their past game.
According to the latest playoff standings aft deduction of points against lowest-ranked teams arsenic adjusted by CAF, Gabon (16 pts) and Burkina Faso (15 pts and fixtures completed) look to person sealed 2 of the 4 disposable playoff slots.
That leaves Niger (15 pts and fixtures completed), Cameroon (14 pts), DR Congo (13 pts), Uganda (12 pts), and Nigeria (12 pts) successful a choky contention for the remaining 2 tickets.
Nigeria, presently 10th successful the ranking with 12 points and a +3 extremity difference, tin inactive suffice — but lone nether circumstantial circumstances.
How Nigeria Can Qualify for 2026 World Cup playoff
If Nigeria defeats Benin Republic 1-0 (or by immoderate two-goal margin), and South Africa besides wins, the Super Eagles would determination to 15 points and decorativeness 2nd successful Group C, frankincense becoming eligible for inclusion successful this inter-group playoff ranking.
However, qualification volition past beryllium connected however results elsewhere unfold.
- Niger person completed their fixtures and tin lone hold for different outcomes.
- Cameroon, who big Angola, are favorites to triumph — apt locking up 1 playoff spot.
- DR Congo besides play astatine location to Sudan and are beardown contenders to assertion the other.
- Uganda, who look Algeria away, look the slightest threatening fixed the pugnacious fixture.
Two Qualification Scenarios
A. For Direct Qualification (as radical winners):
- Nigeria indispensable bushed Benin 1-0 oregon by immoderate two-goal margin.
- South Africa indispensable lose oregon draw their last match.
B. For Playoff Qualification (if South Africa wins):
- Nigeria indispensable bushed Benin by astatine slightest 4 goals to boost extremity quality and leapfrog Burkina Faso successful the playoff standings.
- At slightest 2 of Cameroon, DR Congo, oregon Uganda indispensable lose.
(A gully betwixt DR Congo and Uganda would besides favour Nigeria’s chances.)
The Bigger Picture
The Super Eagles’ destiny present hangs not lone connected their show successful Abidjan but besides connected results successful Yaoundé, Kinshasa, and Algiers.
With 4 playoff spots available, a large triumph could inactive propulsion Nigeria into the past signifier of qualification.
But thing abbreviated of that: and the three-time African champions mightiness find themselves missing
consecutive World Cups for the archetypal clip since 1994.
The station 2026 WCQ: Nigeria tin proceed to playoff adjacent if South Africa wins — here’s how appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.
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