RABAT, MOROCCO – The Democratic Republic of Congo shattered Nigeria's dreams of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup, clinching a tense 4-3 penalty shootout victory after a 1-1 draw in the African play-off final on Sunday, November 16, 2025. The match, held at the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, sends the Leopards to the final inter-confederation play-off tournament in March 2026, where they will compete for one of the last two spots at the global showpiece.

For the Nigerian Super Eagles, a team ranked 19 places above their opponents, the defeat marks a catastrophic end to a turbulent qualifying campaign. The West African giants will now miss a second consecutive World Cup, a significant blow for one of the continent's traditional football powerhouses.

A Tightly Contested Final

Nigeria appeared to be on course for victory after taking an early lead just three minutes into the match. Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka’s low shot from outside the penalty area took a significant deflection off Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe, wrong-footing the Congolese goalkeeper Lionel M'Pasi to give the Super Eagles a 1-0 advantage.

However, DR Congo, far from being discouraged, steadily grew into the game. Their persistence paid off in the 32nd minute when a midfield error by Nigeria's Wilfried Ndidi was punished. Meschack Elia capitalized on the mistake, slotting home the equalizer to level the score. The remainder of the match, including 30 minutes of extra time, saw both sides create chances but ultimately fail to land a decisive blow, with DR Congo looking the more threatening side for long periods.

Penalty Shootout Drama

The fate of both nations was ultimately decided by the lottery of penalties. In a masterstroke, DR Congo coach Sébastien Desabre substituted goalkeeper Lionel M'Pasi for Timothy Fayulu in the final minute of extra time, a move that proved decisive. Fayulu, who plays for FC Noah in Armenia, saved two crucial spot-kicks from Nigeria's Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi.

Nigeria's Calvin Bassey also missed his attempt, firing wide. Despite Stanley Nwabali saving one penalty for Nigeria, DR Congo’s takers were clinical. Captain Chancel Mbemba, who had also scored a late winner in their semi-final victory over Cameroon, stepped up to convert the winning penalty, sparking wild celebrations among the Congolese players and fans.

The Road Ahead and Regional Context

This victory does not grant DR Congo direct entry to the World Cup, a common point of confusion in the new, expanded qualification format. Nine African nations—Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia—have already secured direct qualification by winning their respective groups. DR Congo, as the winner of the play-off tournament for the four best group runners-up, now becomes Africa's representative in the FIFA Play-Off Tournament.

This mini-tournament, scheduled for March 2026 in Mexico, will feature six teams from different confederations (CONCACAF, AFC, CONMEBOL, OFC, and CAF) competing for the final two World Cup slots. For the Leopards, this represents a monumental opportunity to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the nation competed as Zaire.

For Kenya and the wider East African region, the result serves as a powerful illustration of the high stakes and narrow margins in the revamped World Cup qualification process. While Nigeria's elimination removes a major contender from the African football landscape, DR Congo's resilient journey underscores the potential for determined teams to navigate the challenging path to football's greatest stage. The outcome in Rabat will be closely watched across the continent as a testament to both the heartbreak and the enduring hope that defines World Cup qualification.