DR Congo pulled off a dramatic upset against Nigeria, defeating the Super Eagles 4–3 on penalties after a tense 1–1 draw in the African play-off final. The win keeps the Leopards’ World Cup hopes alive as they advance to the final intercontinental qualifier scheduled for March next year.
Nigeria made the perfect start in Rabat, taking the lead inside three minutes when Frank Onyeka’s strike took a heavy deflection and wrong-footed goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu. But the early advantage never settled the West Africans, who struggled for rhythm and urgency throughout the contest. DR Congo grew steadily into the match and were rewarded shortly after the half-hour mark when Meschack Elia reacted sharply inside the box, stabbing home the equaliser to restore balance.
The second half brought more tension than quality. Nigeria pushed sporadically but lacked the cutting edge of previous generations, while DR Congo remained disciplined, compact, and willing to gamble on the counter. Extra time produced few chances, and the match leaned heavily toward a penalty shootout that felt inevitable long before the final whistle.
In the shootout, both teams converted their early kicks before pressure began to crack Nigeria’s resolve. After a series of successful strikes from the Congolese, Timothy Fayulu produced the decisive moment by stopping Semi Ajayi’s effort in the sixth round. Chancel Mbemba, the Leopards’ captain, then stepped up with ice-cold composure to bury the winner, sending DR Congo into wild celebration.
The victory marks a significant achievement for DR Congo, a nation that has not featured at a World Cup since 1974. Their campaign has been defined by resilience, tactical maturity, and a refusal to be intimidated by more historically dominant teams. Their next challenge, the intercontinental play-off, will demand another step forward, but the belief within the camp is rising sharply.
For Nigeria, the result is a bitter blow. Missing out on a second consecutive World Cup is a harsh reminder of the structural issues plaguing the Super Eagles, inconsistency, tactical instability, and a troubling lack of efficiency in key matches. With the 2026 tournament expanding to 48 teams, failure to qualify is seen as a major setback, sparking fresh debates about the direction of Nigerian football.
As DR Congo march on with renewed hope, Nigeria are left to reflect on another painful chapter in their recent history, watching a World Cup slip away one shootout at a time.
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