CAF has confirmed new changes to be implemented in the 2026 World Cup playoffs, with seven days left until the first fixture.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system will be implemented during the African playoffs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to take place later this month.
This marks the first time VAR will be used in this phase of the World Cup qualification process on the continent, a move aimed at enhancing fairness and accuracy in critical match decisions.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles are set to continue their quest for a World Cup berth when they take on Gabon in the playoff semi-final on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. The encounter is expected to be fiercely contested, as both sides seek a place in the final playoff round.
The Super Eagles secured their playoff spot after finishing second in Group C of the African qualifiers. However, they advanced as one of the best second-placed teams across all groups, a rule introduced by CAF to ensure the strongest teams get another chance at qualification.
The playoff format features four teams: Nigeria, Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon. The winner between Nigeria and Gabon will meet the victor of the DR Congo vs Cameroon match, with the overall winner earning a ticket to represent Africa at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The introduction of VAR is seen as a major step forward for African football, especially since the main qualifying rounds were played without the technology. Its inclusion could have a decisive impact, ensuring that key moments, such as penalty calls, offside decisions, and red card incidents, are properly reviewed.
For Nigeria, whose past qualifiers have often been marred by controversial officiating decisions, the availability of VAR could prove vital in their bid to return to the world stage.