World Cup Playoffs: Nigeria to Face DR Congo in Decisive Showdown as Cameroon Crash Out

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will square up against DR Congo in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs after a gripping night of football that delivered late drama, momentum swings, and renewed national optimism. Nigeria booked their place with a commanding 4–1 extra-time win over Gabon in Rabat, a result that reignited belief in a squad striving to return to the global stage.

DR Congo joined them in the decisive clash with an equally dramatic 1–0 victory over Cameroon, secured deep in stoppage time. Chancel Mbemba rose highest to bury a Brian Cipenga corner, stunning the five-time African champions and extinguishing their hopes of qualifying for next year’s tournament. The defeat means Cameroon—Africa’s record World Cup participants, will not feature at the 2026 edition, a major setback for a team long considered one of the continent’s football powerhouses.

Sunday’s final at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay El Hassan in Rabat will determine Africa’s sole representative in the six-team intercontinental playoff slated for March 2026. That playoff will decide the last two nations to qualify for the expanded World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Both Nigeria and DR Congo arrive at the final carrying the emotional weight of dramatic semifinal performances. For Nigeria, the 4–1 victory over Gabon came after a tense 1–1 stalemate in regular time. Chidera Ejuke broke the deadlock in extra time before Victor Osimhen, fresh off his 2023 African Footballer of the Year award added two more goals to seal an emphatic result. The display highlighted not only Nigeria’s attacking depth but also the squad’s ability to thrive under high pressure.

For the Super Eagles, a win on Sunday represents more than a step toward the World Cup. It symbolizes a resurgence, a team rediscovering confidence, discipline, and competitive edge after months of turbulence and public scrutiny. Victory over DR Congo would cement their place among Africa’s elite contenders and keep their World Cup dream firmly alive.

The team also received high-level encouragement following the Gabon win. President Bola Tinubu urged the players to remain relentless in pursuit of qualification, saying: “Do not stop until you secure a qualification. Super Eagles, keep soaring. The nation stands with you!”

Nigeria Football Federation president Ibrahim Gusau echoed the sentiment, insisting that the players possess the “grit, guts, and winning mentality” required to overcome any opposition in Sunday’s final. His remarks underline the federation’s confidence in a squad that appears to be peaking at a crucial moment.

As the continent watches closely, Sunday’s showdown promises a battle defined by strategy, determination, and nerves, one that will decide who carries Africa’s hopes into the last qualifying stage of the road to 2026.

Analysis:

Nigeria’s decisive extra-time win over Gabon and DR Congo’s stoppage-time upset against Cameroon have set up a high-stakes playoff final that now stands as Africa’s last doorway into the 2026 World Cup, turning Sunday’s clash in Rabat into a defining test of resilience, mentality, and continental stature. For Nigeria, the match represents both a shot at redemption and a chance to reassert dominance after years of inconsistency, while Cameroon’s elimination underscores a shifting power balance in African football. With only one of the two remaining teams advancing to the intercontinental playoffs, the encounter is less of a match and more of a battle for survival on the road to global relevance.