Official: CAF announce dates for Super Eagles World Cup qualifying campaign

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will find out their 2026 World Cup qualifying opponents in July, with the first round of qualifiers scheduled for later this year. 

In a memo on CAF website, the draws for the qualifying campaign will take place in July, with all 54 member nations set to participate. 

The 54 nations will be drawn into a group of six teams each, with the nine group winners qualifying for the competition in the USA, Mexico and Canada. 

Also, the top four second-best-placed teams will go into a preliminary playoff, with the winner going ahead to play an intercontinental playoff for the final ticket.

The Super Eagles will be looking to qualify for the Mundial after missing out on the last edition in Qatar. 

Nigeria topped their group but missed out on qualification after losing to Ghana via the away goals rule. 

The Super Eagles played a goalless draw in Kumasi but could only manage a 1-1 draw in the return leg in Abuja. 

Meanwhile, the Super Eagles will also find out their Africa Cup of Nations opponents when the draw is made in October. 

The three-time African champions need just one more point to book their spot in next year’s competition scheduled for January and February in Ivory Coast.