Can Nigeria still qualify for World Cup 2026? Super Eagles match schedule, results in CAF qualifying

Nigeria went into the October international break with their World Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

Their inconsistent campaign over the first eight matchdays meant they needed an unlikely set of results in order to secure their place automatically at next year's finals or, at the very least, progress to the CAF playoff round.

The Africa Cup of Nations runners-up were winless in their first four matches in CAF Group C, with a 2-1 loss to Benin following three consecutive draws, but new head coach Eric Chelle oversaw a morale-boosting 2-0 win in Rwanda, where Victor Osimhen bagged a brace to seal the Super Eagles' first World Cup qualification win since November 2021.

Osimhen was on target once more four days later against Zimbabwe, but a 90th-minute equaliser for the group's bottom side struck a huge blow to the Super Eagles' chances of securing an automatic spot at next year's tournament.

Those memories were still fresh against Rwanda on September 6 when, after Osimhen limped off, substitute Tolu Arokodare scored the only goal. A draw with South Africa in Bloemfontein left Nigeria in potentially dire straits, but a FIFA ruling against Bafana Bafana may just have offered them some reprieve.

They edged a 2-1 win at Lesotho, but even then, it looked as though finishing in the top two of the group was beyond them. That was until they produced a quite remarkable display against Benin on October 14, inspired by the brilliance of Osimhen.

They followed that up in November with an emphatic win over Gabon as the CAF playoffs got underway, and they faced DR Congo in the final in Rabat — a game that went all the way to penalties.

AllSportsPeople takes a look at what Nigeria have to do to salvage their efforts to reach the 2026 World Cup and their upcoming fixtures.

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Can Nigeria still qualify for World Cup 2026?

No. Nigeria's World Cup qualifying campaign ended in a penalty-shootout defeat to DR Congo in the final of the CAF qualification playoff tournament.

The Super Eagles defeated Gabon 4-1 in the semifinal on November 13 to set up a showdown with DR Congo, who beat Cameroon in the other semifinal.

Frank Onyeka put Nigeria ahead after only three minutes, but Mechak Elia netted an equaliser just past the half-hour mark. The scores remained at 1-1 all the way to the end of extra time.

In the shootout, the teams were level at 3-3 heading into sudden death, but Semi Ajayi saw his effort saved before Chancel Mbemba scored the decisive spot-kick.

They now advance to the intercontinental playoff round, where a chance to reach the World Cup will be up for grabs.

MORE: What did Atalanta pay for Ademola Lookman?

When is next Nigeria match?

Nigeria's next match will be in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins in December.

They face Tanzania in their opening game of Group C.

Super Eagles schedule

*Result forfeited in Nigeria's favour as part of disciplinary action against Libya

How many African teams will qualify for 2026 World Cup?

Nine African teams are guaranteed a spot at the 2026 World Cup, with the possibility of a 10th taking part.

After the nine group winners from CAF qualification progress automatically, the four best runners-up will contest a playoff to decide which team advances to the inter-confederation eliminator round.

One representative from each confederation, except for UEFA and with two from CONCACAF as the host federation, will contest the six-team playoff.

The two highest-ranked teams according to FIFA's world rankings will be seeded for the playoff, which will decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.

The seeded teams will face the winners of two semifinals featuring the four unseeded teams for a place at the tournament.