DR Congo now wait for Thursday’s draw for the inter‑confederation playoffs in March, where six teams will compete for two spots in the 48‑team finals.
By Asaye Bankole
The Democratic Republic of the Congo kept their World Cup hopes alive by beating Nigeria 4‑3 on penalties after a 1‑1 draw following extra time, winning the African qualifying playoff in Morocco.
DR Congo now wait for Thursday’s draw for the inter‑confederation playoffs in March, where six teams will compete for two spots in the 48‑team finals.
Captain Chancel Mbemba scored the decisive penalty after Congolese substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu – brought on a minute before the shoot‑out – saved two kicks. Frank Onyeka gave Nigeria the lead in the third minute, but Meschack Elia equalised, leaving the score 1‑1 after extra time.
The Rabat mini‑tournament was for the best runners‑up from the nine African qualifying groups; the nine group winners had already secured direct World Cup berths for Canada, Mexico and the United States next year.
Nigeria, with six previous World Cups, started well: the Congolese cleared an early cross only to the edge of their box, where Onyeka collected the ball and powered it in, helped by a slight deflection off Axel Tuanzebe.
The Congolese could have equalised within nine minutes had Ngal’ayel Mukau not shot over the crossbar after Nigeria’s goalkeeper flapped at the ball.
DR Congo appeared more ambitious as the match progressed, but both teams were cautious and careful not to make mistakes with so much at stake.
Nigeria needed extra time to edge past Gabon in their Thursday semifinal and looked far more tired than their opponents, who beat Cameroon within 90 minutes in the later semifinal.
There were two chances in extra time, first when Nigerian substitute Tolu Arokodare headed over, and then when Mbemba’s final shot was saved by Nwabali.
DR Congo kept their composure in the shootout and now have a chance to qualify for their first World Cup since 1974, when the country was still called Zaire. Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Ghana, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, and Tunisia have already qualified directly for the 2026 World Cup from Africa.
Bolivia from South America and New Caledonia from Oceania have already reached the six‑team continental playoff.
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