African World Cup 2026 qualifiers playoffs: Squads, teams and start time

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The Confederation of African Football (CAF) playoffs statesman connected Thursday with 4 teams – Cameroon, Gabon, Nigeria, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo – slugging it retired to determine which federation volition advancement to the FIFA intercontinental playoff tourney successful March, which is the last hurdle for qualification into the World Cup 2026 successful North America.

The 4 teams were the champion runners-up crossed the 9 African qualifying groups – and the playoff victor volition support live their nation’s hopes of becoming the continent’s 10th typical astatine adjacent year’s finals.

Here is each to cognize astir the CAF playoffs:

Where are the African playoffs being held?

Morocco’s superior Rabat volition big the African World Cup playoffs, utilizing 3 antithetic stadiums for the 3 matches.

Al Barid Stadium and Moulay El Hassan Stadium volition beryllium utilized for the semifinals.

The recently built Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which volition big the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last connected January 18, volition beryllium the venue for the CAF playoff final.

What clip bash the African playoff matches start?

The 2 sudden-death semifinal playoffs volition beryllium played astatine the pursuing times:

Nigeria vs Gabon: Thursday, November 13 astatine 5pm (16:00 GMT) astatine Moulay El Hassan Stadium
Cameroon vs Congo DR: Thursday, November 13 astatine 8pm (19:00 GMT) astatine Al Barid Stadium

The winner-take-all last volition beryllium played astatine the pursuing time:

CAF final (Teams TBD): Sunday, November 16 astatine 8pm section (19:00 GMT) astatine Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium

How was the gully made for the CAF playoff matches?

The gully was based connected the existent FIFA satellite rankings of the 4 teams arsenic of October 17.

Nigeria was ranked highest (#41), followed by Cameroon (#54), Congo DR (#60) and Gabon (#77).

Based connected the rankings, FIFA implemented a No.1 (Nigeria) vs No.4 effect (Gabon) matchup for the archetypal semifinal and a No.2 (Cameroon) vs No.3 (Congo DR) 2nd semi.

Nigeria's Victor Osimhen scores their archetypal goal

What does the African playoff victor inactive request to bash for World Cup qualification?

The victor of Sunday’s CAF playoff indispensable inactive flooded teams from different continents successful a FIFA intercontinental playoff scheduled for March successful Mexico to determine the last 2 qualifiers for the World Cup.

The intercontinental playoff volition diagnostic 2 teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and 1 squad apiece from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).

How galore African nations person already qualified for the FIFA World Cup 2026?

Nine African countries person already qualified via nonstop introduction from the CAF radical stage: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.

When and wherever is the FIFA World Cup 2026?

The tourney is being staged crossed the United States, Canada and Mexico. The archetypal lucifer volition beryllium played successful Mexico City connected June 11, portion the last volition beryllium staged successful New Jersey, the US, connected July 19.

Due to the enlargement of the tourney – from 32 teams to 48 – the 39-day lawsuit is the longest successful its history.

What are the African squads for the CAF playoffs?

⚽ Cameroon:

Goalkeepers:
Andre Onana (Trabzonspor, Turkiye), Devis Epassy (Dinamo Bucuresti, Romania), Simon Omossola (Saint-Eloi Lupopo, Congo)

Defenders:
Michael Ngadeu-Ngadjui (Beijing Guoan, China), Nouhou Tolo (Seattle Sounders, US), Jean-Charles Castelletto (Al-Duhail, Qatar), Jackson Tchatchoua (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England), Darlin Yongwa (Lorient, France), Flavien Enzo Boyomo (Osasuna, Spain), Aboubakar Nagida (Rennes, France), Malcom Bokele (Goztepe, Turkiye)

Midfielders:
Frank Anguissa (Napoli, Italy), Martin Hongla (Granada, Spain), Jean Onana (Genoa, Italy), Yvan Neyou (Getafe, Spain), Carlos Baleba (Brighton & Hove Albion, England), Arthur Avom (Lorient, France), Wilitty Younoussa (Rodez, France)

Forwards:
Vincent Aboubakar (c) (Azerbaijan Neftci, Azerbaijan), Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (New York Red Bulls, US), Moumi Ngamaleu (Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Christian Bassogog (Al-Okhdood, Saudi Arabia), Bryan Mbeumo (Manchester United, England), Georges-Kevin Nkoudou (Diriyah, Saudi Arabia), Frank Magri (Toulouse, France), Danny Namaso (Auxerre, France), Patrick Soko (Almeria, Spain), Karl Etta Eyong (Levante, Spain)

⚽ Congo DR:

Goalkeepers:
Matthieu Epolo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Timothy Fayulu (Noah, Armenia), Lionel Mpasi (Le Havre, France)

Defenders:
Rocky Bushiri (Hibernian, Scotland), Gedeon Kalulu (Aris Limassol, Cyprus), Steve Kapuadi (Legia Warsaw, Poland), Joris Kayembe (Racing Genk, Belgium), Arthur Masuaku (Sunderland, England), Chancel Mbemba (Olympique de Marseille, France), Axel Tuanzebe (Burnley, England), Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United, England)

Midfielders:
Theo Bongonda (Spartak Moscow, Russia), Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Glasgow Celtic, Scotland), Edo Kayembe (Watford, England), Nathanael Mbuku (Montpellier, France), Samuel Moutoussamy (Atromitos, Greece), Ngal’ayel Mukau (Lille, France), Charles Pickel (Espanyol, Spain), Noah Sadiki (Sunderland, England), Mario Stroeykens (Anderlecht, Belgium)

Forwards:
Cedric Bakambu (Real Betis, Spain), Samuel Essende (Augsburg, Germany), Brian Cipenga (Castellon, Spain), Meshack Elia (Alanyaspor, Turkiye), Fiston Mayele (Pyramids, Egypt).

⚽ Gabon:

Goalkeepers:
Francois Junior Bekale (Hafia, Guinea), Loyce Mbaba (Stella d’Adjame, Ivory Coast), Lukas Mounguenou (Paris Saint-Germain, France), Demba Anse Ngoubi (Mosta, Malta)

Defenders:
Aaron Appindangoye (Sivasspor, Turkiye), Jonathan bash Marcolino (Bourg-en-Bresse, France), Jacques Ekomie (Angers, France), Bruno Ecuele Manga (Paris 13 Atletico, France), Yannis Mbemba (FC Dordrecht, Netherlands), Johan Obiang (Orleans, France), Mike Kila Onfia (Hafia, Guinea), Anthony Oyono and Jeremy Oyono (both Frosinone, Italy)

Midfielders:
Oumar Samake Nze Bagnama (Stade Abdijan, Ivory Coast), Eric Bocoum (Gol Gohar, Iran), Guelor Kanga (Esenler Erokspor, Turkiye), Mario Lemina (Galatasaray, Turkiye), Didier Ndong (Esteghlal, Iran), Andre Biyogho Poko (Amed, Turkiye)

Forwards:
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Olympique de Marseille, France), Teddy Averlant (Amiens, France), Denis Bouanga (Los Angeles FC, US), Alan bash Marcolino (Lusitania Lourosa, Portugal), Randy Essang Matouti (Khenchela, Algeria), Noha Lemina (Yverdon Sport, Switzerland), Bryan Meyo (Oympique Lyonnais, France)

⚽ Nigeria:

Goalkeepers:
Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa), Amas Obasogie (Singida Blackstars, Tanzania), Maduka Okoye (Udinese, Italy)

Defenders:
Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France), Semi Ajayi (Hull City, England), Calvin Bassey (Fulham, England), Benjamin Fredericks (Dender, Belgium), Bruno Onyemaechi (Olympiakos, Greece), Bright Osayi-Samuel (Birmingham City, England), Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal), William Troost-Ekong (Al-Kholood, Saudi Arabia)

Midfielders:
Alex Iwobi (Fulham, England), Wilfred Ndidi (Besiktas, Turkiye), Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium), Frank Onyeka (Brentford, England), Alhassan Yusuf (New England Revolution, US)

Forwards:
Akor Adams (Sevilla, Spain), Tolu Arokodare (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)

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