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Nigeria Eliminated on Penalties as DR Congo Reach 2026 Intercontinental Playoff

The outcome closes a second consecutive World Cup miss for Nigeria, sending DR Congo to March qualifiers in Mexico.

Overview

  • The match finished 1-1 after 120 minutes before DR Congo won the shootout, with substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu entering at 120 minutes and making two saves.
  • DR Congo advance to the intercontinental playoffs in Mexico in March, a bracket that also includes Bolivia and New Caledonia with other teams to be confirmed.
  • Nigeria will miss a second straight World Cup after appearing in six of the previous seven editions.
  • Tensions boiled over during the penalties as a brawl broke out between the benches following perceived provocations.
  • Nigeria head coach Éric Chelle told ESPN that a DR Congo staff member performed a voodoo ritual during the shootout, and he was seen approaching the opposing bench aggressively while picking up a bottle.