AFCON 2025
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will have two international windows in the second half of 2026 following a major change to FIFA’s international match calendar.
FIFA has merged the traditional September and October international breaks into one extended 16-day window running from September 21 to October 6, while the November window will hold from November 9 to 17.
The new September-October window will allow national teams to play up to four matches, while a maximum of two matches can be played during the November window.
The change means Nigeria will have only two international call-up periods during the final part of the year, instead of the three separate windows previously available in September, October and November.
The extended first window could give Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle more time with his squad as Nigeria prepares for upcoming international assignments, including the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The Super Eagles could play up to four matches during the September-October window, depending on the fixtures arranged for the national team.
FIFA approved the calendar reform in 2023 as part of its wider restructuring of the international football calendar following the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Under the new arrangement, domestic leagues will also have more matches before the first international break. In the English Premier League, for example, the first break will come after Matchday 5 instead of Matchday 3.
FIFA said the restructuring is aimed at reducing disruptions to domestic competitions while providing national teams with longer periods to work with their players.
For Nigeria, the new calendar will shape the Super Eagles’ international schedule for the remainder of 2026, with the team set to have fewer but longer opportunities to prepare and compete together.
