Nigeria Crash Out Of 2026 World Cup Race After Penalty Defeat To DR Congo

Nigeria’s bid to return to the World Cup stage has ended in heartbreak after a tense playoff defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Rabat brought their 2026 campaign to a close.

The Super Eagles, who had hoped to bounce back after failing to qualify in 2022, were pushed to the limit in a gritty battle that stretched into a penalty shootout. DR Congo held their nerve when it mattered most, edging Nigeria and sealing the West African giants’ elimination from the qualifiers.

The loss means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for a second consecutive edition, a rare setback for a nation that had reached six of the previous seven tournaments.

While Nigeria’s journey ends, DR Congo’s remarkable run continues. The Leopards have advanced to the inter-confederation playoff, where six teams will compete for the final two tickets to the 2026 World Cup. Their surge has been described as a Cinderella story, with the team now just one step away from returning to the global stage for the first time since 1974, when they qualified as Zaire for the tournament in West Germany.