Nigeria vs DR Congo 1-1 (3-4 penalties) – CAF World Cup playoff final
All the updates as DR Congo beat Nigeria in the CAF playoffs final for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This page is now closed, but a summary of the football game is available below, and you can click here for our full match report. Thanks for joining us at Al Jazeera Sport.
- DR Congo come back from a goal down to beat Nigeria 4-3 on penalties in the African playoffs final for the FIFA World Cup 2026, to qualify for the intercontinental playoffs in March.
- Frank Onyeka put Nigeria 1-0 up after just three minutes at the Prince Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, but DR Congo regrouped and Elia grabbed an equaliser for the Congolese in the 32nd minute.
- In the second half, Nigeria look bereft of ideas after Victor Osimhen was forced to withdraw with injury at half-time, and it was mostly DR Congo pressing for the winner. The Congolese found the net twice, only for the efforts to be chalked off, and the game went to penalties.
- Congolese substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu, brought on a minute before the shootout, made two saves in the shootout.
- DRC’s captain Chancel Mbemba, on his 101st international appearance, stepped up to convert the winning penalty to spark delirious celebrations among the DRC players and fans.
- DR Congo progress to play in a mini-tournament held in Mexico in March alongside five other teams, with two World Cup places up for grabs.
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That’s a wrap!
Our live coverage of Nigeria vs DR Congo in the CAF qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup has ended.
DR Congo beat Nigeria 4-3 on penalties, sealing their place in the inter-confederation playoffs.
Thank you for tuning in, and we hope you enjoyed this dramatic contest.
Until next time, it’s goodbye from all of us at Al Jazeera Sport.
Which African teams have qualified for the World Cup?
Nine African countries have already qualified via direct entry from the CAF group stage: Algeria, Cape Verde, Egypt, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
DR Congo could be the 10th if they earn qualification via the inter-confederation playoffs in March.
The intercontinental playoff will feature two teams from the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF) and one team apiece from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC).
Quick recap: DR Congo win African World Cup playoffs in penalty shootout
The Democratic Republic of Congo kept alive hopes of a World Cup place as they edged Nigeria 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time to win the African qualifying playoffs in Morocco on Sunday.
DR Congo now await the draw on Thursday for the inter-confederation playoff in March, where six teams will chase two places at the 48-team finals.
Captain Chancel Mbemba converted the decisive kick after Congolese substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu, brought on a minute before the shootout, made two saves
Frank Onyeka had Nigeria ahead in the third minute, but Meschack Elia equalised for the two sides to be level 1-1 after extra time.
When Mbemba won the game for DR Congo
🇨🇩 And this is the moment when DR Congo took a huge step towards the 2026 World Cup
🎉 Now it’s party time! pic.twitter.com/RAXtuCvnch
— Jay Harris (@jaydmharris) November 16, 2025
Captain Mbemba wins it again for DR Congo
DR Congo captain Mbemba scored the last-minute winning goal against Cameroon in the semifinals of the playoff. Tonight, he stepped up once again, slamming his kick high and in the middle of the net.
On his 101st appearance for the country, the skipper has proved to be the match-winner yet again.
Nigeria pay price for poor start to qualifying campaign
A poor start to their World Cup qualifying campaign has proven to be the biggest reason for Nigeria’s failure to earn the 2026 ticket.
Three draws and a defeat in their first four games set them up for a horrendous start, and from there on, they lost grip on their campaign.
Tonight’s defeat means the Super Eagles have not played at the World Cup since their group-stage exit at Russia 2018. They will miss consecutive World Cups for the first time since 1990.
DR Congo dream on, as Nigeria’s World Cup hope shattered
The 4-3 penalty shootout victory keeps DR Congo’s World Cup dream alive.
The men in blue are fighting for their first World Cup appearance since 1974, when they played as Zaire.
As for Nigeria, the defeat meant the Super Eagles would miss out on successive World Cup appearances, having also missed the 2022 edition in Qatar.
Congolese party kicks off in Rabat
The DR Congo team has been celebrating with its fans at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Posing for team photos in front of their fans’ section, holding the flag with pride, they know they did their job well, beating Nigeria to keep themselves in contention for the World Cup.
The result did not come easily, and at times, they looked devoid of answers. But never did they lose hope or give up on their World Cup dream, and eventually tasted victory in possibly the best way.
Now, a six-team inter-confederation playoff awaits them in March, where they can be one of the two teams to earn qualification at the 2026 World Cup.
DR Congo beat Nigeria 4-3 on penalties
A turnaround of fortunes in Rabat, Morocco.
Trailing in the third minute after Onyeka sent Nigeria 1-0 up, DR Congo found themselves in deep trouble.
But Elia put them back in the contest with a 32nd-minute equaliser, before they fought hard and pushed hard for a vital second goal.
Ninty minutes of regulation time, and a further 30 minutes of extra time weren’t enough for DR Congo to find the net, but in a dramatic shootout, they showed their grit, beating the mighty Nigerians 4-3.
The men in blue go through to the inter-confederation playoffs, where there are two World Cup spots up for grabs.
Mbemba scores to win it for DR Congo!
The captain makes no mistake from the spot, and DR Congo win!
What a comeback!
Nigeria: X X O O O X
DR Congo: X O X O O O
Ajayi denied!
The DR Congo keeper, Fayulu, dives to his left side and parries it!
Nigeria: X X O O O X
DR Congo: X O X O O
Balikwisha scores
The ball hits the side-netting! A powerful attempt.
Nigeria: X X O O O
DR Congo: X O X O O
Ejuke scores
Ejuke is not put off by the bottle thrown at him from the crowd, and he slams his shot down the middle.
Nigeria: X X O O O
DR Congo: X O X O
Mayele scores!
The players seem to have found their touch.
Mayele sends the keeper the wrong way and finds the bottom corner.
Nigeria: X X O O
DR Congo: X O X O
Onyemaechi scores
The Nigerians take the lead as he sends a powerful shot in the corner!
Nigeria: X X O O
DR Congo: X O X
Tuanzebe’s shot is saved!
The Nigerian goalkeeper, Nwabali, dives to his left side to keep out Tuanzebe’s weak shot.
Nigeria: X X O
DR Congo: X O X
Adams scores!
Adams calms the nerves of Nigerians, thumping his shot into the top of the net!
Nigeria: X X O
DR Congo: X O
Sadiki scores!
The DR Congo #11 is the first penalty-taker to find the net, slotting his kick into the bottom left corner.
Nigeria: X X
DR Congo: X O
Simon’s shot is saved too
The rain is pelting down in Rabat now.
Simon is the next Nigeria player, and his shot is saved too! The DR Congo’s strong left hand did the magic.
Nigeria: X X
DR Congo: X
Moutoussamy’s shot is saved
The Nigerian goalkeeper dives to his right side to deny Moutoussamy!
Nigeria: X
DR Congo: X