Nigeria’s Super Eagles have officially canceled their planned international friendly matches against Venezuela and Colombia in the United States next month, redirecting their full attention to the crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoffs in Morocco.
Focus Shifts to World Cup Qualification Against Gabon
According to a report by ESPN on Monday, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirmed the decision to pull out of the U.S. tour after the national team secured a place in the CAF World Cup playoff semifinals by defeating Benin Republic last week.
The two friendlies — originally scheduled for November 14 at Shell Energy Stadium in Houston and November 18 at Citi Field in New York — were expected to serve as high-profile tune-ups. However, the NFF says qualifying for the World Cup now takes priority.
“We had a clause in the contract for the games covering this eventuality,” an NFF official told ESPN.
“Since we’ve qualified for the playoffs, we will not be going ahead with the matches. Our goal now is to concentrate fully on qualifying for the World Cup.”
Nigeria to Face Gabon in CAF Playoff Semifinal
The Super Eagles are set to play Gabon in the CAF playoff semifinal between November 13–16 in Morocco. Should Nigeria advance, they will face the winner of Cameroon vs. DR Congo for Africa’s lone ticket to the intercontinental playoff in Mexico, scheduled for March 2026.
Nigeria, ranked 41st globally by FIFA, is the highest-ranked team among the four remaining contenders.
Refunds for Canceled Friendlies to Be Announced
Fans who purchased tickets for the now-canceled matches in the U.S. can expect refund procedures to be announced shortly, according to ESPN. The friendlies had been part of a broader strategy to engage the Nigerian diaspora and fine-tune the squad ahead of major competitions.
AFCON 2025 Preparation Also Underway
In addition to the World Cup path, the matches in Morocco serve as early preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Nigeria, runners-up in the 2023 AFCON hosted by Ivory Coast, are drawn in Group C alongside Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda. Their AFCON campaign begins on December 23 in Fez, Morocco.
