Nigeria face Gabon in Rabat, Morocco on Thursday in the semifinals of the CAF World Cup qualifying playoffs.
The Super Eagles produced a remarkable 4-0 win over Benin in October to snatch second place in Group C and progress to this month’s mini-tournament along with Gabon, Cameroon, and DR Congo.
The winners of the two semifinals will contest a final on Sunday for the right to enter the inter-confederation playoffs in March 2026, where two spots at the World Cup will be up for grabs.
Eric Chelle’s team have had a turbulent qualifying period but know that, should they replicate the performance level they showed against Benin, they have a good chance of overcoming a Gabon side who sit 36 places below them in the FIFA rankings.
MORE: Updated list of teams qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Nigeria lineup vs. Gabon: Confirmed starting XI, team news
Chelle is sticking with a very similar set-up to the one that thrashed Benin to secure their playoff place, albeit with a couple of changes.
Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze provided plenty of opportunities for hat-trick hero Victor Osimhen last time out, but Simon makes way this time for Ademola Lookman.
There is also a change in defence, with Semi Ajayi dropping out and Bright Osayi-Samuel coming in, which likely means Benjamin Fredrick moving to centre-back.
Nigeria (4-4-2, right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Osayi-Samuel, Fredrick, Bassey, Sanusi — Chukwueze, Iwobi, Ndidi, Lookman — Adams, Osimhen
Full Nigeria squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Amas Obasogie, Maduka Okoye
Defenders: William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Chidozie Awaziem, Benjamin Fredrick, Zaidu Sanusi
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi
Forwards: Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, Olakunle Olusegun.
MORE: All you need to know about the 2026 World Cup draw
Nigeria vs. Gabon match details
- Date: Thursday, November 13, 2025
- Kickoff time: 5 p.m. local / 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. IST / 3 a.m. AEST (Nov. 14)
- Location: Moulay Hassan Stadium (Rabat, Morocco)
- Competition: CAF World Cup Qualifier (playoff semifinal)
- Referee: Tom Abongile (South Africa)
