The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has officially withdrawn the Super Eagles from their scheduled international friendlies in the United States next month, citing the need to concentrate fully on the upcoming FIFA World Cup play-offs.
The friendly matches — initially planned against Venezuela on November 14 in Houston and Colombia on November 18 in New Jersey — have been scrapped as Nigeria prepares for a high-stakes qualification showdown for a spot at the 2026 World Cup.
In a statement released by NFF officials, the federation confirmed the cancellation, pointing to a clause in the match contracts that permits withdrawal in the event of World Cup qualification commitments.
“The friendlies were subject to cancellation if the national team progressed to the play-off stage,” an NFF official disclosed. “With the fixtures now overlapping, the priority is to focus entirely on securing a World Cup ticket.”
Nigeria is set to face Gabon in a decisive semi-final tie on November 13 in Morocco, part of a newly structured African play-off format that determines the continent’s final representatives for the global tournament.
Should the Super Eagles advance past Gabon, they will face either Cameroon or DR Congo in the final, with the winner booking a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup — jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
The decision to cancel the U.S. tour reflects a strategic pivot by the NFF, prioritizing competitive readiness over exhibition games.
It also allows head coach Finidi George additional time to fine-tune tactics and condition the squad ahead of what is expected to be a physically and mentally demanding qualifying series.
Nigeria, currently Africa’s top-ranked team among the four remaining contenders, is aiming for a return to the World Cup after a disappointing miss in 2022.
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Beyond the World Cup, the November play-offs also serve as crucial preparation for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which will also be hosted in Morocco later this year.
Key Fixtures:
* Play-off Semi-Final: Nigeria vs Gabon – November 13, Morocco
* Potential Final: Winner of Nigeria/Gabon vs Winner of Cameroon/DR Congo – Date TBC
