Super Eagles of Nigeria
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in painful fashion on Sunday, as the Super Eagles lost 4–3 on penalties to the Democratic Republic of Congo after a tense 1–1 draw.
The showdown in Rabat, Morocco, had been billed as a heavyweight clash, especially after both sides came through dramatic semi-finals.
Nigeria booked their spot in the final with a commanding 4–1 extra-time victory over Gabon on Thursday, while DR Congo edged Cameroon 1–0 at the Al Barid Stadium.
The Super Eagles got off to a dream start when Frank Onyeka struck in the third minute, only for Mechak Elia to draw the Leopards level just before the half-hour mark. From then on, the match swung from end to end.
Tolu Arokodare nearly restored Nigeria’s lead with a powerful header, while goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali kept the team in contention with a brilliant stop from a Congolese free kick.
Nigeria had their fair share of missed chances too, with Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon unable to convert early openings. Nwabali later produced two crucial saves during the penalty shootout, but they proved insufficient as Bassey, Simon and Semi Ajayi all failed to convert their kicks.
Chancel Mbemba stepped up to score the decisive penalty, sealing DR Congo’s place in next March’s intercontinental play-off.
Both nations had reached this stage after finishing second in their qualifying groups, with Morocco hosting the semi-finals and final.
For Nigeria, the result marks a bitter milestone—their second straight failure at the play-off hurdle, following their elimination by Ghana in the run-up to Qatar 2022. It is also the first time since their World Cup debut in 1994 that the Super Eagles will miss back-to-back tournaments.
