CAF Play-offs: Super Eagles ready to soar, says NFF boss
The President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has expressed unwavering confidence in the Super Eagles’ readiness to secure Africa’s coveted slot in the Intercontinental Play-offs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Speaking on Wednesday, Gusau affirmed that the Nigerian spirit, resilient and unyielding, remains the driving force behind the team’s qualification for the CAF Play offs.
He emphasized that the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the NFF are working in close coordination to ensure the three-time African champions are fully prepared for their semi-final clash against Gabon on Thursday, 13th November, and the potential final against either Cameroon or the Democratic Republic of Congo on Sunday, 16th November.
‘Everything is being done, by the NSC and the NFF, to see that nothing is left to chance. No stone will be left unturned,’ Gusau stated. ‘That special spirit that saw the team rise to the occasion and score the four goals they actually needed against Bénin Republic on the final day of the qualifiers will propel the team to victory in the play-offs.’
The Super Eagles will commence their training camp in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday, 9th November. Gusau confirmed that discussions with players are already underway and that there is a shared commitment across the squad to achieve success.
‘Every preparation needed to see the team soar to victory will be made, and I believe the players are additionally motivated by that keen desire of every professional footballer to feature at the FIFA World Cup finals,’ he added.
Nigeria will face Gabon at either the 18,000-capacity El-Barid Stadium or the 22,000-capacity Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex, both located in Rabat.
The final of the playoffs is scheduled to take place at the Stade Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has announced that a draw will be conducted on Thursday, 30th October to determine which of the semi-final matches will be played in each stadium.
