Super Eagles of Nigeria have been dumped out by the Leopards of DR Congo after a penalty shoot-out win in the final of the CAF 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers playoffs on Sunday, www.aclsports.com reports.
Frank Onyeka handed Nigeria a lead in the third minute before Meschak Elia equalized for DR Congo just after the half-hour mark. In the shootout, Stanley Nwabali made two big stops, but it was not enough as Chancel Mbemba powered home the decider to seal DR Congo’s place in the inter-continental playoffs in Mexico next year.
Following his suspension against Gabon on Thursday, Semi Ajayi returned to the starting line-up. Eric Chelle also handed a start to Frank Onyeka in midfield, as Nigeria’s first goalscorer on Thursday, Akor Adams, was listed on the bench. With Ajayi’s return, youngster Benjamin Fredrick started at right-back at the expense of Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Nigeria made a bright start to the game when Frank Onyeka’s effort on goal was deflected home in the third minute for a Super Eagles lead. It was a good reward for their early forays into the opposition’s half. Five minutes later, the skipper of the day, Wilfred Ndidi, fired wide from outside the area before Ndidi and Samuel Chukwueze ran into each other while trying to apply a finishing touch to Ademola Lookman’s cutback midway through the half.
Just two minutes after the half-hour mark, DR Congo got themselves back on level terms. Nigeria lost the ball in midfield, and Cedric Bakambu’s cross nicely set up Meschak Elia for the equalizer despite Ndidi’s failed clearance. The two teams were cautious in their approach from that moment on, as the half ended 1-1.
After the interval, Super Eagles were dealt a huge blow as Victor Osimhen went off injured, and Akor Adams came on as his replacement. Following the restart, Nigeria struggled to get forward, and despite the introduction of Chidera Ejuke and Moses Simon for the ineffective Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze by Eric Chelle, the Super Eagles could not create any goal-scoring chances.
It was scrappy from that moment on, with little or no clear-cut chances until goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali nearly gifted the Leopards a goal, but the former Enyimba man recovered brilliantly to save the goal-bound effort.
Just like on Thursday, the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes, needing extra time to determine who would go through at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. The two sides could also not be separated in extra time, and the game went to penalties, and it was the Leopards who went to win 4-3.
DR Congo progress to a six-team FIFA intercontinental playoff scheduled for March in Mexico to decide the final two qualifiers for the World Cup.
