Ivory Coast v Burundi

Ivory Coast v Burundi

Payment boycott threatens Nigeria's crucial FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon

Nigeria players call off boycott, resume training, after discussions with NFF

Africa's World Cup playoffs - Will Nigeria and Cameroon's off-field dramas scupper their chances?

Payment boycott threatens Nigeria's crucial FIFA World Cup playoff against Gabon

Nigeria players call off boycott, resume training, after discussions with NFF

Africa's World Cup playoffs - Will Nigeria and Cameroon's off-field dramas scupper their chances?

Game Information

FIFA World Cup Qualifying - CAF Standings

WCQ - CAF News

2026 World Cup Qualifying - CAF, Group Stage

Ivory CoastIvory CoastCIV

6-1-0, 19 PTS

BurundiBurundiBDI

3-1-3, 10 PTS

Bayo Youssouf - 3'

1
Fofana
3
Konan
21
Ndicka
7
Kossounou
17
Zogbe
6
Fofana
8
Kessié
10
Adingra
18
Sangaré
15
Amad
9
Youssouf

No.Name
1Yahia Fofana
21Evan Ndicka
7Odilon Kossounou
3Ghislain Konan
17Luc Zogbe
18Ibrahim Sangaré 4Christopher Operi
6Seko Fofana 12Jean-Philippe Gbamin
8Franck Kessié
9Bayo Youssouf 22Sébastien Haller
10Simon Adingra 14Parfait Guiagon
15Amad 19Nicolas Pépé

Substitutes
20Emmanuel Agbadou
13Bazoumana Touré
5Armel Junior Zohouri
11Evann Guessand
23Alban Lafont
2Clément Akpa
16Mohamed Koné

1
Nahimana
3
Weymans
22
Nduwarugira
13
Nsabiyumva
14
Niyukuri
4
Muderi
7
Girumugisha
12
Bizoza
5
Msanga
21
Bigirimana
20
Kanakimana

No.Name
1Jonathan Nahimana
13Frederic Nsabiyumva
22Christophe Nduwarugira
14Claus Niyukuri
3Marco Weymans
4Akbar Muderi
12Parfait Bizoza 8Mokono Eldhino 19Keita Bukuru
5Henry Msanga 10Shassiri Nahimana
7Jean Girumugisha
21Abedi Bigirimana 11Richard Bazombwa
20Bienvenue Kanakimana 18Sudi Abdallah

Substitutes
9Karim Kamana
16Aladin Bizimana
15Omar Moussa
6Trésor Mossi
17Kevin Icoyitungiye
2Olivier Dushime
23Onésime Rukundo

Felix Houphouet-Boigny

3:00 PM, September 5, 2025Coverage: ESPN+

Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Referees:
Bouchra Karboubi

Just two days before their important 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoff semi-final game against Gabon, the full Nigeria squad, including officials, decided to boycott training in Morocco because of unresolved money issues.

Nigeria's preparation for Thursday's 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off semifinal against Gabon got back on track after the standoff between players and the NFF over unpaid bonuses was called off.

Ahead of this week's African qualifying playoffs -- as Nigeria, Gabon, Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo look to keep their World Cup hopes alive -- here's ESPN's bumper preview, with predictions.

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Ivory Coast

Seychelles