It was a sad night for all of Nigeria when the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup when they lost to the DR of Congo 4:3 in penalties.
Nigeria lost its talismanic striker, Victor Osimen after the first half due to an injury picked up early in the match. The Eagles having played for two hours in a tense match against Gabon, were a bit tired as the match wore on.
This is the first loss for the Nigeria National Team Coach, Eric Chelle who has done a fantastic work with the team. The next sight for the team now is to rest and prepare for the Cup of Africa Nations qualifying matches.
Chin up Nigerians, Chin up Super Eagles. Nigerians are proud of you
DR Congo national football team have secured a spot in the next stage of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup — the inter‑confederation playoff.
Here’s a breakdown of what comes next for them:
✅ What they accomplished
They beat Nigeria national football team 4–3 on penalties after a 1‑1 draw in extra time in the African playoff final. That win means they advance to the inter‑confederation playoff round.
🔜 What happens now
- DR Congo will take part in the inter‑confederation playoff tournament, which takes place in March 2026.
- This playoff involves six teams from various FIFA confederations (e.g., Africa, Asia, Oceania, CONCACAF) competing for two remaining spots in the World Cup.
- They must win their match(es) in this tournament to qualify for the World Cup finals.
🎯 What this means for DR Congo
- They are one step away from returning to the World Cup finals for the first time since they were known as Zaire in 1974.
- The next matches are high‑stakes: one loss and their campaign ends.
- They’ll likely need to prepare with a strong squad, good strategy, and mental resilience for the playoff format.
⚽ Who DR Congo’s Potential Opponents Are
- Bolivia — The CONMEBOL (South America) team that qualified for the inter‑confederation playoff.
- New Caledonia — Representing Oceania.
- Asia Representative: Either Iraq or the United Arab Emirates (UAE), depending on which side wins their AFC playoff.
- Two CONCACAF Teams: The top two group runners‑up from CONCACAF will also join the playoff.
That gives DR Congo a wide range of possible matchups. It’s not locked yet—who they face depends on how those other confederation playoffs shake out.
