In a stunning upset that sent shockwaves through the African football community, the Democratic Republic of Congo dashed Nigeria's hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup with a dramatic penalty shootout victory this past Sunday. The crucial African play-offs final, held in Rabat, concluded with a 4-3 penalty triumph for the Congolese after the teams were locked at 1-1 following extra time.
Nerve-Shredding Finale in Rabat
The match was a rollercoaster of emotions from the very first minute. Nigeria, ranked 19 places higher than their opponents, made a dream start, taking the lead within just three minutes. A cross into the box was only partially cleared, and Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka unleashed a powerful, low drive from outside the area. The shot took a decisive deflection off Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe, wrong-footing DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel M’Pasi.
However, the Super Eagles' early advantage was short-lived. DR Congo slowly grew into the game and found an equalizer after 32 minutes. A cross from veteran forward Cedric Bakambu caused chaos in the Nigerian six-yard box, and when captain Wilfred Ndidi failed to control the ball, Mechak Elia was perfectly positioned to pounce and slot the ball past goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.
The match suffered a significant blow for Nigeria late in the first half when star striker Victor Osimhen, who had scored five goals in his previous two international appearances, was forced off with an injury. He was replaced by Akor Adams for the start of the second period.
Extra Time Drama and Penalty Agony
As the match progressed into extra time, the tension became palpable. DR Congo thought they had snatched a winner 19 minutes into the additional period, but their joy was cut short as the Moroccan referee disallowed the goal for a foul by the scorer, Noah Sadiki.
With no further goals, the fate of both nations was decided from the penalty spot. The shootout was a nerve-riddled affair, featuring four saved spot-kicks and one miss. The hero for DR Congo was substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu, who was brought on specifically for the shootout in the final minute of extra time and made two crucial saves.
Amidst torrential rain and the distraction of a bottle thrown onto the pitch, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba displayed immense composure to convert the winning penalty, sending his nation into the inter-confederation play-offs and extinguishing Nigeria's World Cup dream.
What's Next for the Winners and Losers?
This historic victory means DR Congo will travel to Mexico next March to compete in a six-nation inter-confederation mini-tournament. They become the third nation to qualify for this final stage, joining Bolivia and New Caledonia. The tournament, which excludes European teams, will see the two highest-ranked participants receive byes to the final, while the other four contest single-match semi-finals. The two final winners will earn a coveted spot at the 2026 World Cup.
For Nigeria, the defeat marks a painful end to their qualifying campaign. Having comfortably defeated Gabon 4-1 in the semi-finals just three days prior, the Super Eagles were considered favourites but ultimately fell short when it mattered most. The 2026 World Cup, hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will feature a record 48 nations. The nine African teams that have qualified automatically are Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia.
