The Super Eagles of Nigeria will miss the 2026 World Cup.
The team lost to DR Congo on penalties in the African playoffs final on Sunday.
Chancel Mbemba scored the winning penalty kick to send the Leopards into the intercontinental playoffs for the World Cup.
Stanley Nwabali saved two kicks in the shootout, but it was not enough to cancel out misses from Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi.
Although the Eagles took an early lead in the 3rd minute, they were deflated for most of the regular period and throughout extra time, with DR Congo swarming them with wave after wave of attacks.
Frank Onyeka, one of the changes in the Nigerian starting line-up, scored the first goal with a long-range shot that deflected off a Congolese defender into the net.
DR Congo struck back in the 32nd minute through Mechak Elia, who finished off a fast counterattack after Alex Iwobi was robbed of the ball.
Nigeria’s coherence collapsed after the halftime break, when Victor Osimhen was forced off with a knock and replaced by Adams Akor.
The midfield was overrun by the Congolese from then on. Iwobi looked unsure. Ndidi was bereft of ideas. The ball changed direction seconds before Onyeka could keep up with it.
Eric Chelle hauled off Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman to provide more width and speed with Simon and Chidera Ejuke. But the substitution only emphasised Nigeria’s overreliance on Osimhen. Even Tolu Arokodare’s introduction yielded little in the final third.
Only the spirited performance of Bassey and Benjamin Fredrick in defence kept the Congolese at bay till the match plodded into penalty kicks.
In a frustrating show of horrible penalties, DR Congo came out on top.
The Super Eagles also missed out on the 2022 World Cup. It is the first time Nigeria have failed to qualify for two consecutive World Cups since the country’s debut in 1994
