The Confederation of African Football (CAF) playoffs begin on Thursday with close competition between Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to determine which countries will advance to the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff Tournament in March, the final hurdle to qualifying for the North American 2026 World Cup.
These four teams are the best runners-up across the nine African qualifying groups, and the play-off winners will keep alive the country’s hopes of becoming the continent’s 10th representative in next year’s finals.
Here’s what you need to know about the CAF Playoffs.
Where will the African playoffs be held?
The African World Cup playoffs will be held in Morocco’s capital Rabat, with three different stadiums being used for the three matches.
Al Balid Stadium and Moulay El Hassan Stadium will be used for the semi-finals.
The newly built Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will host the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) final on January 18, will be the venue for the CAF play-off final.
What time do the African playoff games start?
The two sudden death semi-final playoff games will be played at the following times:
Nigeria vs Gabon: Thursday 13 November, 5pm (16:00 GMT), Moulay El Hassan Stadium Cameroon vs Congo DR: Thursday 13 November, 8:00pm (19:00 GMT), Al Barid Stadium
The winner-take-all finals will be held at the following times:
CAF Final (Teams TBD): Sunday, November 16th, 8pm local time (7pm GMT), Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
How was the draw for CAF Playoff matches done?
The draw was based on the FIFA world rankings of the four teams as of October 17th.
Nigeria ranked highest (41st), followed by Cameroon (54th), Democratic Republic of the Congo (60th) and Gabon (77th).
Based on the rankings, FIFA pitted the first seed (Nigeria) against the fourth seed (Gabon) in the first semifinal, and the second seed (Cameroon) against the third seed (Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the second semifinal.
What do Africa’s play-off winners still need to do to qualify for the World Cup?
The winners of Sunday’s CAF Playoffs will have to defeat teams from other continents in the FIFA Intercontinental Playoffs scheduled for March in Mexico to decide the final two World Cup qualifying teams.
The intercontinental playoffs will feature two teams from the Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Football (CONCACAF), one team each from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Confederation of South American Football (CONMEBOL) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
How many African countries have already qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?
Nine African countries have already qualified through direct entry from the CAF group stage: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
When and where will the 2026 FIFA World Cup be held?
This tournament will be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The first match will be held in Mexico City on June 11th, and the final match will be held in New Jersey, USA, on July 19th.
The tournament expanded from 32 to 48 teams, making the 39-day event the longest in history.
What are the African teams in the CAF Playoffs?
⚽Cameroon:
Goalkeeper:
Andre Onana (Turkiye, Trabzonspor), Davis Epathy (Romania, Dinamo Bucuresti), Simon Omossola (Congo, Saint-Eloy Lupopo)
Defender:
Michael Gadu-Gajoui (China, Beijing Guoan), Nouhou Toro (Seattle Sounders, USA), Jean-Charles Castellet (Al Duhail, Qatar), Jackson Chathua (Wolverhampton) Darling Yonwa (L’Orient, France), Flavien Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna, Spain), Abubakar Nagida (Rennes, France), Malcolm Bokélé (Turquier, Goztepe)
Midfielder:
Frank Anguissa (Napoli, Italy), Martin Honra (Granada, Spain), Gian Onana (Genoa, Italy), Ivan Neille (Getafe, Spain), Carlos Barreba (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Arthur Avom (Lorient, France), Willitti Yunussa (Rodez, France)
forward:
Vincent Abubakar (c) (Azerbaijan Neft, Azerbaijan), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (New York Red Bulls, USA), Moumi Gamalev (Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Christian Basogog (Al-Okhdoud, Saudi Arabia), Brian Mbe Umo (Manchester United, England), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Diriyah, Saudi Arabia), Franck Magri (Toulouse, France), Danny Namaso (Auxerre, France), Patrick Soko (Almeria, Spain), Carl Etta Eyon (Levante, Spain)
⚽Democratic Republic of Congo:
Goalkeeper:
Matthew Epolo (Standard-Liege, Belgium), Timothy Fayulu (Noa, Armenia), Lionel Mpathi (Le Havre, France)
Defender:
Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian, Scotland), Gedeon Kalulu (Alice Limassol, Cyprus), Steve Capuadi (Legia Warsaw, Poland), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk, Belgium), Artoo Le Masuaku (Sunderland, England), Chancel Mbemba (Olympique de Marseille, France), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley, England), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United, England)
Midfielder:
Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Ed Kayembe (Watford, England), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier, France), Samuel – Muthusamy (Atromitos, Greece), Galayel Mukau (Lille, France), Charles Pickel (Espanyol, Spain), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland, England), Mario Streukens (Anderlecht, Belgium)
forward:
Cedric Bakambu (Spain, Real Betis), Samuel Essende (Germany, Augsburg), Brian Shipenga (Spain, Castellon), Meshack Elia (Turquie, Alanyaspor), Fiston Maiele (Pyramids, Egypt).
⚽Gabon:
Goalkeeper:
François Junior Bekare (Hafia, Guinea), Lois Mbaba (Stella Djame, Ivory Coast), Lucas Moungou (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Demba Ansu Ngobi (Mosta, Malta)
Defender:
Aaron Appindangoe (Sivaspor, Turkier), Jonathan de Marcolino (Bourg en Bresse, France), Jacques Ecomie (Angers, France), Bruno Ekuele Manga (Paris XIII Atlético, Fra ), Giannis Mbemba (FC Dordrecht, Netherlands), Johan Obiang (Orléans, France), Mike Kyra Onfia (Hafia, Guinea), Anthony Oyono and Jeremy Oyono (both Frosinone, Italy)
Midfielder:
Oumar Samake Nze Banyama (Stade Abdijan, Ivory Coast), Eric Bokum (Gol Gohar, Iran), Guerol Kanga (Esenler Elokspor, Turkiye), Mario Lemina (Galatasaray, Turkiye), Didier Ndong (Esteglar, Iran), Andre Biyogo Poco (Amed, Turkiye)
forward:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Olympique de Marseille, France), Teddy Averland (Amiens, France), Dennis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC, USA), Alain de Marcolino (Lusitania L’Orosa, Portugal), Randy Ehsan Matuti (Kentchela, Algeria), Noja Lemina (Iverdon Sport, Switzerland), Brian Mayo (Olympique Lyon, France)
⚽ Nigeria:
Goalkeeper:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amasu Obasogie (Singida Black Stars, Tanzania), Maduka Okoye (Italy, Udinese)
Defender:
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France), Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium), Bruno Onyemaesi (Olympiakos, Greece), Bright Ossai-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), William Troost Ekong (Al Khoroud, Saudi Arabia).
Midfielder:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkiye), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Frank Onyedika (Brentford, England), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, USA)
forward:
Akole Adams (Seville, Spain), Tolu Alokodare (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Samuel Chukwueze (Fulham, England), Chidera Ejuke (Sevilla, Spain), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta, Italy), Olakunle Olusegun (Nizhny Novgorod, Russia), Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray, Turkiye), Moses Simon (Paris) FC, France)
