Nigeria’s quest for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup suffered a crushing blow on Sunday after the Super Eagles fell 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo in the African playoff final at the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
The Eagles got off to a blistering start when Frank Onyeka fired home in the 3rd minute, giving Nigeria an early 1–0 advantage. But the Congolese clawed their way back into the contest, and Elia struck in the 32nd minute to level the score after sustained pressure.
Nigeria’s woes deepened when star forward Victor Osimhen failed to return for the second half due to injury. Lacking creativity and attacking thrust, the Eagles struggled to regain control as DR Congo dominated much of the second period. The Congolese had the ball in the net twice, but both goals were ruled out, forcing the tightly contested encounter into a penalty shootout.
With tension at its peak, Congo captain Chancel Mbemba — making his 101st international appearance — buried the decisive spot-kick, sealing a historic 4–3 win and sending the Congolese team and supporters into wild celebration.
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The victory propels DR Congo into the intercontinental mini-tournament scheduled for March in Mexico, where they will battle five other nations for two remaining 2026 World Cup slots.
For Nigeria, it marks another painful chapter in their recent World Cup qualifying struggles, leaving fans and players alike heartbroken.