The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced the cancellation of the Super Eagles’ planned international friendly matches against Venezuela and Colombia in the United States, following the team’s qualification for the 2026 World Cup play-offs.
NFF’s Director of Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire, confirmed the development to the media onday, explaining that the cancellation was unavoidable due to the clash in schedules.
“Yes, we have cancelled it, and it is automatic,” Olajire said. “It is bound to happen once we qualify for the play-offs. There is no way we can feature in the play-offs on November 13 and 16 and still play the friendlies.”
The two friendly fixtures — arranged through the NFF’s FIFA-licensed match agent, Jairo Pachón of Eurodata Sport — were originally slated for November 14 and 18 in Houston, Texas, and New York, respectively. Nigeria were scheduled to face Venezuela at the Shell Energy Stadium before taking on Colombia at Citi Field in Queens.
The friendlies were intended to serve as part of the team’s build-up for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). However, the dates now coincide with the CAF-organised World Cup qualifying play-offs, which will be staged between November 13 and 16 in Morocco.
Nigeria booked their place in the play-offs after thrashing Benin Republic 4–0 in Uyo during the last international window — a victory powered by a Victor Osimhen hat-trick and a late goal from Frank Onyeka. The result secured the Super Eagles’ spot among Africa’s four best runners-up.
Under the Confederation of African Football’s current qualification format, only the nine group winners qualify automatically for the World Cup, while the four best runners-up contest an additional play-off round to determine which nation proceeds to the inter-confederation play-offs.
Nigeria will face Gabon in one of the semi-final fixtures, while Cameroon will take on DR Congo in the other. Both matches will be played on November 13, with the winners advancing to the final on November 16.
The eventual winner will earn the right to represent Africa in the global inter-confederation play-offs — the final route to securing a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
