Nigeria’s bid to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in heartbreak on Sunday after a 4-3 penalty loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo at the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat. The match had finished 1-1 in regulation time before stretching through a tense extra period and a dramatic shootout that kept fans on edge.
The Super Eagles started with energy and purpose, driven by Victor Osimhen’s early pressure on the Congolese defence. Frank Onyeka put Nigeria ahead with a strike from the edge of the box that took a deflection off Axel Tuanzebe, wrong-footing goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi. The lead was short-lived. As DR Congo settled, Theo Bongonda and Cédric Bakambu used quick breaks to test Nigeria’s back line. A misplaced pass in midfield by Wilfred Ndidi opened the path for Mechak Elia, who raced free and beat Stanley Nwabali to level the score.
Nigeria returned from the interval determined to reclaim control. Osimhen forced two close chances, one skimming wide and another stopped by Mpasi, while Bakambu kept Nwabali alert with a powerful drive from distance. Neither side could find a winner in extra time as the pace slowed and caution took hold.
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The penalty shootout brought its own turmoil. Nigeria faltered early with misses from Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon. Nwabali kept hope alive with two strong saves, but the final blow came when Semi Ajayi’s effort failed to find the net. Chancel Mbemba then stepped forward to seal DR Congo’s victory and push the Leopards into the inter-confederation playoff set for late March 2026.
For DR Congo, whose last World Cup appearance was in 1974 under the name Zaire, the win is a landmark moment in a campaign built on discipline and timely breakthroughs. Nigeria, seeking a seventh World Cup ticket, will reflect on a bright start that slipped away and a string of missed chances that proved decisive. The defeat marks their second straight failure at the playoff stage and the first time the team has missed back-to-back World Cups since joining the global stage in 1994.
