DR Congo kept their 2026 World Cup hopes intact after defeating Nigeria in a tense penalty shootout during the African play-offs final in Rabat. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, and DR Congo held their nerve to win 4-3 on penalties, securing a spot in the inter-confederation play-offs scheduled for March in Mexico. The result brought a dramatic end to Nigeria’s qualification journey and marked a major milestone for a Congolese squad determined to return to football’s biggest stage.
Nigeria entered the match as favourites, sitting 19 places above DR Congo in global rankings, yet the momentum shifted as the game progressed. Despite conceding early, DR Congo showed resilience, composure, and tactical discipline that gradually tilted the match in their favour.
How Did DR Congo Turn the Game Around?
Nigeria opened the scoring in just three minutes. A partially cleared cross fell to Brentford midfielder Frank Onyeka, whose low strike from outside the box was deflected by Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe past Lionel M’Pasi. The early blow could have derailed DR Congo, but the central Africans slowly regained control.
Their breakthrough came in the 32nd minute. Cedric Bakambu delivered a precise cross into the box, and when Nigeria captain Wilfred Ndidi failed to control it, Mechak Elia reacted quickest to beat goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. The equaliser settled DR Congo, who grew stronger as the match wore on, while Nigeria appeared more cautious, particularly in the closing stages of regular time.
Late in the first half, Nigeria suffered a major setback when star striker Victor Osimhen went off injured after a strong run of scoring form in recent matches. He was replaced by Akor Adams for the second period, and Nigeria struggled to regain their attacking rhythm.
In the 83rd minute, a defensive mix-up between Nwabali and his backline nearly gifted DR Congo the lead, but substitute Mahmoud Mayele narrowly missed capitalising. Extra time offered more drama, including a disallowed DR Congo goal ruled out by the Moroccan referee for a foul by Noah Sadiki.
The shootout proved decisive. Substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu, who entered the match in the final minute of extra time, made two crucial saves. With rain pouring and tension rising, DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba calmly stepped up and scored the winning penalty despite a bottle being thrown toward him from the stands.
What Comes Next for DR Congo in World Cup Qualification?
The victory sends DR Congo into a six-nation inter-confederation mini-tournament in Guadalajara and Monterrey starting March 23. They join Bolivia and New Caledonia as confirmed participants, with three more teams set to secure places. The competition will determine two final qualifiers for the expanded 48-team World Cup hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico in 2026.
The African continent will be represented by nine automatically qualified teams: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, and Tunisia. DR Congo now aims to join them by navigating a challenging play-off path and returning to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when they competed as Zaire.
With renewed belief, solid defensive organisation, and a squad showing real grit under pressure, DR Congo’s journey continues. Their dramatic victory over Nigeria has already become one of the most talked-about moments of the qualification campaign, and the next chapter unfolds in March.
By Yockshard Enyendi