How to watch Super Eagles, Gabon’s do-or-die World Cup play-offs in Rabat

Four African nations-Nigeria, Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon, are set to clash in a high-stakes CAF World Cup play-off mini-tournament this week in Morocco, with only one team guaranteed a chance to advance to the intercontinental play-off for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

The semi-finals take place on Thursday at Rabat’s stadiums, with the Super Eagles facing Gabon at 5:00 pm, followed by DR Congo against Cameroon at 8:00 pm. Both matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport Africa 1 (GOtv Ch. 63, DStv Ch. 207).

For the Super Eagles, the stakes could not be higher. After a mixed group stage campaign, Nigeria secured a play-off spot as one of the best runners-up, edging Burkina Faso on goal difference following a 4-0 rout of Benin that featured a Victor Osimhen hat-trick and a late strike from Frank Onyeka.

Six-time World Cup participants, the Super Eagles are determined to reclaim their global standing after missing Qatar 2022. Coach Eric Chelle’s side will rely on Osimhen’s form and attacking prowess, though Gabon, led by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, remain resilient underdogs capable of an upset.

The second semi-final features DR Congo against Cameroon, a clash of contrasting histories. DR Congo, making their only World Cup appearance in 1974, impressed in the qualifiers under Sébastien Desabre and are considered dark horses.

Cameroon, Africa’s most decorated World Cup nation with eight appearances, arrive amid coaching tensions, but possess the experience and pedigree to handle pressure. The encounter is widely viewed as a balanced contest.

The winners of Thursday’s matches will meet on Sunday in the final to determine who earns the right to represent Africa in the intercontinental play-off. For Nigeria and the other hopefuls, the week represents a defining moment that will either cement redemption or deliver heartbreak.