The race for Africa’s remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff spots has tightened, with Nigeria’s Super Eagles still in contention while South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Benin’s Cheetahs face elimination.
According to the All Nigeria Soccer report, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) recently revised the ranking criteria for group runners-up after Eritrea’s withdrawal from Group E. The adjustment means that points earned against sixth-placed teams will no longer count toward the final standings — a change that has reshaped the playoff picture.
Under the new calculation, South Africa’s points gained against Zimbabwe’s Warriors have been discounted. Even with a win against Rwanda in their final group fixture, Hugo Broos’ side would only finish with 14 points — not enough to break into the top four runners-up.
“We have to focus on getting the three points against Rwanda and hope the gods are with us,” Bafana Bafana coach Hugo Broos said, acknowledging the slim chance his team has to qualify.
Gabon have already secured a place among the top four runners-up regardless of the outcome of their final match against Burundi. Cameroon, Burkina Faso and Niger currently complete the top four with 15 points each after the revised standings were applied.
Nigeria, however, remain mathematically alive in the race. The Super Eagles have amassed 12 points under the updated rankings, excluding results against Zimbabwe. They can still claim a playoff spot if they beat Benin’s Cheetahs by more than two goals in their decisive final group encounter.
Benin, on the other hand, are no longer in the playoff race but could still qualify directly by finishing top of Group C a scenario that adds extra tension to the fixture.
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong has urged his teammates to stay focused ahead of the crucial tie. “This is a big moment for us. We need to step up, fight for every ball and make our country proud,” he said.
Cheetahs coach Gernot Rohr, a former Nigeria manager, appealed for calm and fair play before the high-stakes match. “It’s not a war. It’s football. We respect Nigeria, but we are here to play our game,” Rohr stated.
