The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed South African referee Abongile Tom as the centre referee for Nigeria’s crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff semi-final clash against Gabon in Rabat, Morocco, SportPremi reports.
The fixture will take place on Thursday, November 13, 2025, at 5:00 PM (Nigerian time), at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Sports Complex, where the Super Eagles will look to secure a spot in the final playoff round.
CAF Names Officials for the Nigeria vs Gabon Clash
According to CAF’s official appointment list:
- Referee: Abongile Tom (South Africa)
- Assistant Referee: Zakhele Thusi Granville Siwela (South Africa)
- Video Assistant Referee (VAR): Akhona Zennith Makalima (South Africa)
- Referee Assessor: Hugue Adjovi (Benin Republic)
Tom is no stranger to the Super Eagles, having officiated their 1–1 draw with Equatorial Guinea during the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations group stage earlier this year.
Nigeria’s Road to the World Cup Playoffs
The Super Eagles are set for a decisive clash as they continue their quest to return to football’s biggest stage after missing the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Nigeria reached this stage after a 4–0 win against Benin Republic, with Victor Osimhen scoring three goals and Frank Onyeka’s late strike.
For Gabon, this is a golden opportunity to make history. The Panthers, led by Denis Bouanga and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, finished second in Group F behind Ivory Coast and are chasing their first-ever World Cup qualification.
The winner of this semi-final will progress to the final playoff on November 16. The champion of that game will move on to the Intercontinental Playoffs, the last qualifying stage, where Africa’s representative will face an opponent from another continent for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
What to Expect
Nigeria are expected to rely on their attacking trio of Victor Osimhen, Lookman, and Chukwueze to break down Gabon’s defense, while head coach Eric Chelle aims to capitalize on their recent momentum.
