Hello and welcome! Thanks for joining us as Nigeria takes on DR Congo in the CAF playoff final for a spot in the 2026 World Cup.
The stakes are high as the winner of this African playoff will advance to a six-nation intercontinental tournament in Mexico this March, featuring top teams from every football region except Europe.
The loser, meanwhile, will exit the race for a World Cup that will see a record 48 nations compete across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Both Nigeria and DR Congo earned this second chance after finishing as the best runners-up in their respective African qualifying groups, giving them one last shot at glory.
Matchday in Moulay El Hassan! ️
Nigeria and DR Congo in the African #WCQ Play-Offs Final tonight. Ready? pic.twitter.com/YYZvXX8L8L
— CAF_Online (@CAF_Online) November 16, 2025
The Super Eagles, led by Galatasaray superstar Victor Osimhen, are determined not to repeat the heartbreak of missing out on Qatar 2022 after a playoff loss to Ghana. Nigeria have never missed consecutive World Cups since their debut in 1994 and are eager to reclaim their spot on football’s biggest stage.
DR Congo, on the other hand, have far fewer appearances to their name. The only time they played at a World Cup was in 1974, back when the nation was known as Zaire—making this clash a historic opportunity for the Central Africans.
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Ndidi Boost For Nigeria
Nigeria has received a major boost with Wilfred Ndidi confirmed available for selection.
The ex-Leicester City midfielder had seemed at risk of suspension after receiving a yellow card in Thursday’s semi-final victory over Gabon—his second in the qualification stage.
However, it was clarified on Saturday that yellow cards accumulated during World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the play-offs, meaning Ndidi is cleared to feature.
Head To Head
Nigeria wins: 2
DR Congo wins: 3
Draws: 1
Encounters between these two countries are relatively uncommon, with DR Congo holding the upper hand overall.
Nigeria ‘Wants To Be At The World Cup’
Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong shares his thoughts ahead of Nigeria’s crucial FIFA World Cup playoff clash against DR Congo in Rabat on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/Nw3tPqgDoA
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 15, 2025
William Troost Ekong believes the team is focused on the task ahead: “We’re not trying to prove anything to anyone, we want to prove it to ourselves, and we want to be at the World Cup ourselves.”
Reflecting on the team’s progress, Ekong added, “Every game, the boys are getting more comfortable with that pressure.”
He also acknowledged the challenge ahead, noting, “Facing Congo is not gonna be easy at all, so we just have to prepare our best.” With determination high, the squad is ready for Sunday’s showdown.
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