In a grueling CAF World Cup playoff final at the Moulay Hassan Stadium on Sunday night, Nigeria suffered a painful 4-3 penalty shootout defeat against the DR Congo, resulting in the Super Eagles missing the FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive edition.
Nigeria started strong, grabbing an early lead in the third minute when Frank Onyeka's shot took a massive deflection off Axel Tuanzebe and rolled into the net. Nigeria maintained forward pressure, controlling the midfield and searching for a second goal. However, DR Congo equalized just past the half-hour mark. After a turnover by Alex Iwobi near the halfway line, Cedric Bakambu drove forward and picked out Mechak Elia, who capitalized on a mis-control by Wilfred Ndidi to score, leveling the match at 1-1 by halftime.
The second half was a tighter, more defensive affair for Nigeria, while DR Congo probed for opportunities, especially on the counter. The game slowed dramatically after the hour-mark, though DR Congo came agonizingly close to scoring in the 83rd minute after a poor pass from Nigerian goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, though they failed to convert the mistake.
Extra time saw DR Congo dominate possession and nearly take the lead in the 109th minute with a shot that appeared to have crossed the goal line, but the appeal was waved off by the referee. The tense 1-1 scoreline pushed the match to the dreaded penalty shootout. DR Congo's extra-time substitute goalkeeper, Timothy Fayulu, emerged as the hero of the night, pulling off crucial saves to deny both Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi. The Leopards clinched the shootout 4-3, advancing to the Inter-confederation Playoffs and ensuring Nigeria's painful exit.
Nigeria's failure means the Super Eagles will not participate in the World Cup in 2022 or 2026, marking a difficult period for the national team.
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