FIFA 2026 WCQ: CAF to use VAR in playoff as Iwobi is optimistic about Super Eagles' chances

The Confederation of African Football has announced that video assistant referee will be used in the 2026 continental FIFA World Cup playoffs later this month.

Nigeria will resume their hunt for a 2026 World Cup ticket when they face Gabon in the playoff semi-final on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.

The Super Eagles finished second in Group C but made the playoffs by virtue of being one of the best second-placed teams.

They will compete in a four-team tournament alongside Gabon, DR Congo, and Cameroon, with the winner of the Nigeria-Gabon tie facing the victor of the DR Congo-Cameroon clash.

The introduction of VAR for the playoffs marks a significant change from the main qualifiers, when the technology was not employed in any game at all.

The development could prove crucial for Nigeria, as every decision will now be scrutinised by match officials.

For instance, Calvin Bassey’s goal for Nigeria against South Africa in the return leg would have been cancelled for handball had VAR been in use.

However, Nigeria have also been on the receiving end of poor officiating in recent months.

A case in point was the situation that got Victor Osimhen injured against Rwanda in August, which could have resulted in a red card, but the referee did not call it back.

The Super Eagles will be hoping that the introduction of VAR does not hinder them in Morocco as they seek to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Elsewhere, Fulham midfielder Alex Iwobi says the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, declaring that Nigeria have the players and abilities to compete against any country in the world.

 Iwobi spoke to CNN ahead of Nigeria’s crunch playoff semi-final against Gabon on Thursday, November 13, in Rabat, Morocco.

The 28-year-old was reacting to Nigeria’s shaky World Cup qualifying campaign that saw the Eagles finish second in Group C behind South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

“We’ve managed to rescue ourselves from the dead,” Iwobi told CNN.

“We know we have the players and the abilities to compete against any other country in the world.”

The Fulham star pointed to Nigeria’s star power, highlighting African Footballer of the Year winners Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen as proof of the squad’s quality.

“We have last year’s African best player (Ademola Lookman), the year before that (Victor Osimhen),” he said.

“It’ll be a shame if we don’t make it, but we have a lot of confidence. We just have to prove it to ourselves.”

Nigeria’s path to the United States, Canada and Mexico has been turbulent, with two coaches departing during the early stages of qualifying before Éric Chelle steadied the ship to steer the Super Eagles into November’s CAF playoffs.

Four nations from the continent – Nigeria, Cameroon, DR Congo and Gabon – will vie for a solitary spot to compete in next March’s inter-confederation playoffs, with a view to joining the already nine qualified African nations at the Finals.

It would mark Iwobi’s second appearance at the World Cup Finals and the Super Eagles’ first since the 2018 edition of the competition.

Back then, Iwobi featured in all three games as Nigeria was knocked out in the group stage.