By Obaloluwa Joshua, LAGOS
Nigeria’s Super Eagles will kick-start their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in November.
The official draw of the 2026 World Cup African preliminary qualifiers took place in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on Thursday.
Placed in Group C with tricky opponents; South Africa, Benin Republic, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho, the Super Eagles will play 10 matches in the pool.
PROMPT NEWS reports that the first team will earn automatic qualification to the mundial.
The four best runners-up (from the Groups) will play in a CAF Play-Off tournament.
The winner of the CAF Play-Off Tournament will play in the FIFA Play-off Tournament to potentially be the 10th African nation.
The first two matchdays in the qualifiers will be between November 13-21.
Two other match days will be played next year between June 3-11, 2024.
FULL SCHEDULE
Matchday 1,2 – Nov 13-21 2023
Matchday 3, 4 – June 3-11 2024
Matchday 5,6 – March 17-25 2025
Matchday 7, 8 – September 1-9 2025
Matchday 9,10 – October 6-14 2025
November 10-18 2025 (Playoffs)
