Nigeria’s journey to the 2026 FIFA World Cup officially came to an end on Sunday after a heartbreaking 4–3 defeat to DR Congo in a penalty shootout. The tightly contested playoff, held in Rabat, Morocco, saw the Leopards seal Africa’s spot in the intercontinental playoffs.
Frank Onyeka had given the Super Eagles an early lead, but Meschack Elia drew Congo level before the game dragged on without further goals. In the decisive moment, Congolese goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu emerged as the hero, making crucial saves to send his country through.
Here are the major lessons from Nigeria’s painful exit:
Super Eagles Still Rely Too Heavily on Osimhen
Victor Osimhen’s withdrawal at halftime completely changed the rhythm of the Nigerian team. Without their star striker, the Eagles looked flat, uncertain, and lacked the urgency needed at this level. The performance dropped significantly, and Eric Chelle’s men were fortunate to even last the full 120 minutes without conceding again.
2. DR Congo Chasing a Historic Return
With this win, the Leopards are edging closer to making history. DR Congo winners of the Africa Cup of Nations in 1968 and 1974 have only appeared at the World Cup once, back in 1974 when the country was known as Zaire. Now, they are just one step away from ending that 51-year absence.
3. Another World Cup Miss for Nigeria
This defeat means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the second time in a row. For a nation with three Africa Cup of Nations titles and a rich footballing history, failing to recover from a poor start in the qualifiers proved costly. Since 2006, Nigeria has now missed three World Cup tournaments, an alarming trend for a global football powerhouse.
4. Time to Rebuild the Super Eagles
Coach Eric Chelle has shown promise, but a major rebuild is now unavoidable. Some players may have played their final game in national colours, and new blood is needed to re-energize the team. One lingering question is why Raphael Onyedika, who has impressed recently in the Champions League against Barcelona, remained unused on the bench.
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