Nigeria’s bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a painful end on Sunday after the Super Eagles fell to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a nerve-wracking play-off final decided by penalties in Rabat, Morocco.
The contest, which determined Africa’s representative for next year’s intercontinental play-offs, finished 1–1 after 120 tense minutes.
DR Congo eventually triumphed 4–3 in the shoot-out, delivering a crushing blow to Nigerian fans who had hoped to see their team return to world football’s biggest stage.
The evening had begun on a promising note for Nigeria.
Barely three minutes into the match, midfielder Frank Onyeka pounced on a loose ball and fired home, handing the Super Eagles an early advantage.
The goal settled Nigerian nerves and briefly put DR Congo on the back foot.
Nigeria pressed for a second, carving out half-chances, but their finishing lacked precision.
As the minutes ticked by, the Congolese gradually grew in confidence, tightening their grip on midfield and pushing the Nigerians deeper into their own half.
Their pressure paid off shortly after the half-hour mark.
Mechak Elia latched onto a through ball, slotting past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali to pull the Leopards level in the 32nd minute.
From that moment, the momentum shifted firmly toward the Central African.
The first major surprise of the night came at the restart.
Victor Osimhen, Nigeria’s star forward and captain, did not emerge for the second half.
His withdrawal, still unexplained at the time of the match, forced coach George Finidi to turn to Akor Adams, with Tolu Arokodare and later Chidera Ejuke and Moses Simon joining the fray in search of attacking spark.
Despite the changes, Nigeria struggled to retain possession. DR Congo pushed relentlessly for a winner, keeping the Super Eagles pinned inside their half for long spells.
On two occasions, Nwabali was called upon to keep Nigeria in the contest, including a dramatic stop late in extra time.
A Congolese goal in the added period was ruled out for a foul on the Nigerian goalkeeper, offering the Super Eagles a lifeline and sending the match into the tension-filled shoot-out.
During the penalties, Nwabali provided hope with two important saves. But with the shoot-out extending into sudden death, Nigeria’s luck abandoned them.
Semi Ajayi stepped up for what became the turning point, only to see his effort palmed away by the Congolese goalkeeper.
Chancel Mbemba then converted calmly for DR Congo, sparking jubilation among their supporters and securing the decisive ticket to the intercontinental play-offs scheduled for March 2026.
Nigeria had earlier dispatched Gabon 4–1 to reach this phase of the qualifiers, but DR Congo who edged Cameroon in their semi-final proved the stronger side on the night.
With the World Cup dream extinguished, the Super Eagles must now shift their focus toward defending national pride at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in Morocco next month.
