The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed Rabat, Morocco, as the host city for the highly anticipated African playoffs that will determine the continent’s final representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The announcement was made by Shehu Dikko, Chairman of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission and a member of CAF’s Inter-Clubs Organizing Committee, earlier today.
The matches are expected to take place at the Stade Olympique de Rabat, a world-class facility with a capacity of over 20,000 spectators. The stadium has earned international praise for its modern design and previously hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The playoffs will feature the four best second-placed teams from CAF’s nine qualifying groups: Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gabon, and Nigeria. These nations will battle it out in a single-elimination format, with the semi-finals set for November 13, 2025, and the final taking place three days later on November 16.
The opening match will feature Nigeria against Gabon at 17:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
The second semi-final will be between Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT)
The Final will be played on Sunday, 16 November 2025 at Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT)
The Fixtures
Match 1 : Nigeria vs Gabon: 17:00
Match 2 : Cameroon vs Democratic Republic of Congo: 20:00
The winner of the playoff series will advance to the inter-confederation playoffs scheduled for March 2026, where they will face teams from Asia, South America, Oceania, and CONCACAF for a chance to book a ticket to the expanded World Cup.
With just one spot up for grabs and four African powerhouses vying for it, football fans across the continent are bracing for what promises to be one of the most competitive playoff series in CAF history.
