Star African forwards Victor Osimhen of Nigeria and Bryan Mbeumo of Cameroon are among the headline names aiming to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, but only one can move closer to that dream when the African play-offs begin on Thursday in Rabat, Morocco.
Nigeria face Gabon, while Cameroon meet the Democratic Republic of Congo in the semi-finals of the continental play-offs. The winners will clash on Sunday, also in the Moroccan capital, for a ticket to the intercontinental play-offs next March. Two of the six teams in that stage will eventually qualify for the expanded World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Whoever advances from Africa will join two teams from the Central America and Caribbean region, as well as Bolivia, New Caledonia, and either Iraq or the United Arab Emirates, with two World Cup slots up for grabs.
Nine African nations, namely Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia, have already booked their places. The four best runners-up from the qualifying groups now have a second chance to become Africa’s tenth representative at the global showpiece.
Nigeria enter the play-offs as firm favourites to reach the final. Star striker Victor Osimhen, who scored a hat-trick in the Super Eagles’ 4–0 win over Benin last month, was instrumental in helping Nigeria edge Burkina Faso on goal difference to claim the final runners-up spot.
Osimhen has also been in blistering form in Europe, scoring a treble for Galatasaray against Ajax in the UEFA Champions League last week to move top of the competition’s scoring chart with six goals.
“I love Victor. He is the best striker in the world,” said Nigeria coach Eric Chelle, who has recorded four wins and two draws since taking charge. “It will be very difficult in Morocco, but we are ready.”
Despite Nigeria’s strong form, Gabon cannot be underestimated. The Panthers had the best record among the four runners-up, with eight wins and one draw, though they remain 36 places below Nigeria in the FIFA rankings.
Gabon’s attack will be led by Los Angeles FC forward Denis Bouanga, a nominee for African Player of the Year after scoring eight times in qualifying, and veteran Marseille striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who netted seven goals and could be making his final attempt to appear at a World Cup.
“We have discovered many new players, and the team now has a solid core,” Bouanga said. “Gabon are capable of achieving great things.”
Meanwhile, Cameroon will rely on in-form forward Bryan Mbeumo as they face DR Congo. The 26-year-old Manchester United attacker has scored four goals in his last four matches for the Red Devils and was recently named Premier League Player of the Month for October.
Cameroon coach Marc Brys, who was born in Belgium, hopes Mbeumo’s club form can inspire the Indomitable Lions to reach the final. “Bryan has shown great consistency and maturity. We need that in Morocco,” Brys said.
Cameroon, who have qualified for the World Cup a record eight times for an African nation, finished second in Group D behind surprise package Cape Verde after being held to a goalless draw by Angola in their final qualifier.
Their opponents, DR Congo, will be without injured Newcastle United winger Yoane Wissa, a major setback for coach Sébastien Desabre’s side. The Congolese appeared poised to win their group before surrendering a two-goal lead in a home defeat to Senegal.
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