The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) dramatically ended Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup hopes on Sunday night, defeating the Super Eagles in a tense penalty shootout after their CAF World Cup qualification playoff final ended 1-1 in extra time.
The defeat in Rabat, Morocco, means Nigeria will miss back-to-back World Cups, having also failed to qualify for the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
The DRC’s Leopards, meanwhile, advance to the final intercontinental playoffs in March, keeping their own distant World Cup dream alive.
The Super Eagles started the high-stakes encounter brightly, taking the lead in the 4th minute when Frank Onyeka fired home a deflected effort.
However, the lead was short-lived. DRC equalized in the 32nd minute after Nigeria’s midfield was caught in possession, allowing Meschak Elia to tap the ball in from close range.
The match remained locked at 1-1 through the second half and 30 minutes of extra time.
Nigeria’s attack struggled, especially after star striker Victor Osimhen was substituted at halftime.
Despite several late scares, including a DRC goal ruled out for a foul, the game went to a penalty shootout.
Penalty Shootout
The shootout proved devastating for Nigeria. Despite Stanley Nwabali saving two of DRC's efforts, critical misses from Nigerian players, including a shot over the bar by Calvin Bassey, ultimately sealed the Super Eagles' fate.
The DRC Leopards secured the final victory in the penalty sequence, winning the shootout 4-3 and booking their spot in the intercontinental playoffs.
