Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup ended on Sunday night after a heartbreaking defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the CAF playoff final.
The Super Eagles struck first when Frank Onyeka’s effort took a deflection and found the net. However, the Leopards hit back before the break, with Mechak Elia capitalizing on a defensive mistake to slot beyond Stanley Nwabali and restore parity.
The match finished 1-1 after 120 tense minutes before heading into a penalty shoot-out. Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi all failed to convert their spot-kicks, allowing DR Congo to secure the decisive victory and claim Africa’s slot for the intercontinental playoffs.
The Leopards will now compete in a six-team qualifying tournament scheduled for March 23–31, 2026, which will determine the final two teams heading to next year’s World Cup.