Nigeria Fail to Qualify for 2026 World Cup After Defeat to DR Congo

• The Super Eagles of Nigeria have failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup intercontinental play-off
• The West African side lost to DR Congo 4-3 via penalty shoot-out after a 1-1 draw in the African play-off final
• DR Congo still have a chance to compete at their first World Cup since 1974, when the country was still known as Zaire
• Ghanaian journalist Mufatwu Nabila says Nigeria must learn to win matches without Victor Osimhen, arguing that relying too heavily on one star has proved costly

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Nigeria missed out on FIFA World Cup qualification for the second consecutive edition after suffering a heartbreaking 4-3 defeat on penalties to DR Congo in the CAF World Cup play-off final at the Moulay Hassan Stadium on Sunday night.

The Super Eagles started brightly and struck almost immediately, taking the lead in the third minute.

After pushing into DR Congo’s penalty area, Frank Onyeka fired a shot that took a huge deflection off Axel Tuanzebe, wrong-footing the goalkeeper as the ball trickled into the net.

DR Congo struggled to progress with the ball under Nigeria’s intense early pressure and failed to create meaningful chances during the first 15 minutes.

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By the half-hour mark in Rabat, Nigeria continued to dictate the tempo and searched for a second goal to build on Onyeka’s opener.

However, DR Congo hit back shortly after the 30-minute mark through Mechak Elia. With Alex Iwobi dispossessed near the halfway line, Cedric Bakambu surged forward and slipped the ball to Elia, who pounced after Wilfred Ndidi's mis-control inside the box to level the score.

The sides went into halftime locked at 1-1, and DR Congo emerged from the break looking far more purposeful, per the BBC.

The Leopards pushed forward with energy as they searched for a go-ahead goal, while the match began to lose rhythm after the hour mark.

Nigeria saw less of the ball in attacking areas, and DR Congo looked increasingly dangerous in transition.

As the second half wore on, Nigeria, who didn't look sharp upfront after Victor Osimhen's injury, adopted a more defensive shape while DR Congo probed in the final third. Despite this, both goalkeepers had little to do heading into the final 10 minutes.

DR Congo nearly went ahead in the 83rd minute when Stanley Nwabali misplaced a pass inside his own area, but they failed to capitalise on the gift.

With neither side able to find a winner in regulation time, the match moved into extra time. DR Congo controlled much of the additional 30 minutes and thought they had taken the lead in the 109th minute.

Following a strong move down the left, a loose ball directed toward goal appeared to cross the line before Nwabali gathered it, but the referee dismissed the appeals to the frustration of the Congolese players.

After a gruelling battle, the match headed to penalties. Extra-time substitute Timothy Fayulu emerged as the hero for DR Congo, making two crucial saves to deny Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi.

His brilliance in the shootout sealed a dramatic victory for the Leopards, sending them through to the inter-confederation playoffs and ending Nigeria’s World Cup hopes once again, per Supersport.

Nigeria must learn to win without Osimhen

Ghanaian journalist Mufatwu Nabila has insisted that Nigeria must find a way to win games without Victor Osimhen, stressing that overreliance on the striker has proved costly.

He added that the Super Eagles missing out on the World Cup is a big blow for African football, especially given how much talent Nigeria has.

And although he acknowledged that many Ghanaians are pleased due to the fierce rivalry, Nabila admitted he was a bit disappointed they didn’t make it.

“Nigeria must find a way to win matches without Victor Osimhen,” Mufatwu Nabila told YEN.com.gh. “He is a phenomenal player, but a national team cannot be built around just one man.”

“The Super Eagles missing the World Cup is a big blow for African football,” he added. “With the amount of talent Nigeria has, they should be on the biggest stage.”

“Yes, many Ghanaians are happy because of the rivalry,” Nabila admitted. “But personally, I’m a bit disappointed they didn’t qualify. Africa needs its strongest teams there.”

Nigeria clash with DR Congo

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Nigeria kept their hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup alive with a thrilling victory over Gabon.

Akor Adams opened the scoring in the 77th minute, but Mario Lemina’s late deflected strike in the 89th forced the semi-final play-off into extra time, where Eric Chelle’s side took full control.

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Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh