The Nigerian national football team, the Super Eagles, has officially begun its campaign for a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with key personnel and players arriving at the team's camp in Rabat, Morocco.
Eagles Land in Rabat
Head coach Eric Chelle touched down in the Moroccan capital alongside a contingent of players, including Fulham's trio of Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze. They were joined by Wolverhampton Wanderers' Tolu Arokodare and the newly invited Olakunle Olusegun, as well as officials from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The team's base is the Rive Hotel in Rabat, where the camp officially opened. While the first wave of players arrived, the remainder of the squad was expected to complete the assembly, ensuring full-team preparations could commence.
The Road to the World Cup
The African playoff is a critical four-team tournament featuring Nigeria, Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon. The ultimate winner of this mini-competition will secure Africa's slot in the inter-confederation playoff.
The action kicks off on Thursday, with Nigeria facing Gabon in the opening match. Simultaneously, Cameroon will battle DR Congo. The victors of these two matches will then clash on November 16, 2025, to decide which nation will represent Africa in the global inter-confederation playoff.
Global Playoff Picture Takes Shape
In a significant development, FIFA has announced that the draw for the 2026 World Cup inter-confederation play-offs will be held on November 20, 2025, at its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
This draw is a pivotal step towards finalizing the lineup for the expanded 48-team World Cup, to be hosted by Canada, the United States, and Mexico from June 11 to July 19, 2026. The inter-confederation playoff tournament will feature six teams, including the African representative, competing for the final spots in the global showpiece.
The upcoming November international window is decisive, determining which teams from Africa, Asia, and CONCACAF will join already confirmed participants like Bolivia and New Caledonia in the playoff tournament. To ensure a fair draw process, the next FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking will be published on November 19, 2025, just a day before the draw ceremony.
