World Cup Play-off Final: Ekong says Eagles Will Be Up to Leopards’ Challenge
Nigeria’s captain William Ekong has admitted that the Leopards of Democratic Republic of Congo will be a mountain to climb in Sunday’s Final of the FIFA World Cup Africa Playoff Tournament, but assured that the Super Eagles have the ammunition to prevail at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay El Hassan.
Both countries, who share five African titles between them, clash in a high-stakes game that will produce Africa’s representative at the Intercontinental Playoffs for two more slots at the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals. That tournament will take place in Mexico in four months.
“There is no doubt that the Congolese will be a big challenge. They got here because they are tough and ambitious, and also want to go to the World Cup.
“However, we have a large group of players here, 24 of them, out of which only about four of us have been to the World Cup (in 2018). There is that adrenalin flowing in their system to go to the World Cup and I see it as a big motivation for us to conquer on Sunday.”
Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Chidozie Awaziem are the only members of the present squad who were part of the squad to Russia 2018.
Coach Éric Chelle’s ensemble must beware of a number of predators in the Congo squad, including Spain-based Cédric Bakambu, France-based Nathaniel Mbuku, former Russia U21 star Theo Bongonda and Pyramid of Egypt’s Fiston Mayele.
English Premiership’s Noah Sadiki and Spain-based Charles Pickel are to hold in midfield, while the attack-minded Aaron Wan-Bissaka leads a compact defence that also includes captain Chancel Mbemba, who is looking forward to his 101st cap.
Chelle has all his 24 players available for selection, including Iwobi who will be winning his 91st cap and Simon Moses who will collect his 87th, and Ekong said on Saturday afternoon that the entire group is focused on emerging victorious on Sunday evening.
“We would have preferred to have taken the automatic ticket but it didn’t work out. Now, we are here and we have a second chance and we do not intend to bungle it.”
Sunday’s match will kick off at 8pm.
SUPER EAGLES, LEOPARDS IN HISTORY
13 Dec 1969: DR Congo 5-0 Nigeria (Friendly: Kinshasa)
01 March 1976: DR Congo 2-4 Nigeria (AFCON finals: Dire Dawa)
19 Jan 1992: DR Congo 0-1 Nigeria (AFCON finals: Ziguinchor)
02 Apr 1994: DR Congo 0-2 Nigeria (AFCON finals: Tunis)
03 Mar 2010: Nigeria 5-0 DR Congo (Friendly: Abuja)
08 Oct 2015: DR Congo 2-0 Nigeria (Friendly: Visé)
27 May 2018: Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo (Friendly: Port Harcourt)
. Between 1971-1997, DR Congo was known as Zaire
ÉRIC SÉKOU CHELLE’S SUPER EAGLES DIARY
21 Mar 2025: Rwanda 0-2 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Kigali)
25 Mar 2025: Nigeria 1-1 Zimbabwe (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
28 May 2025: Nigeria 2-1 Ghana (Unity Cup: London)
31 May 2025: Jamaica 2-2 Nigeria (Unity Cup: London)
. Nigeria win 5-4 on penalties to retain the trophy
06 Jun 2025: Russia 1-1 Nigeria (Friendly: Moscow)
06 Sep 2025: Nigeria 1-0 Rwanda (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
09 Sep 2025: South Africa 1-1 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Bloemfontein)
10 Oct 2025: Lesotho 1-2 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Q: Polokwane)
14 Oct 2025: Nigeria 4-0 Bénin Republic (FIFA World Cup Q: Uyo)
13 Nov 2025: Gabon 1-4 Nigeria (FIFA World Cup Playoff: Rabat)
