Nigeria and DR Congo are bracing for a monumental clash on Sunday in Rabat, where the CAF World Cup play-off final will determine who advances to March’s FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off, the last gateway to securing a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The showdown unfolds at the Stade Prince Héritier Moulay El Hassan, a venue where both nations arrive carrying contrasting backstories filled with tension, grit, and late drama.
Nigeria step into the decider with confidence surging through their camp, fresh off a commanding 4–1 extra-time demolition of Gabon. What initially appeared to be a routine outing turned into a nerve-stretcher as the match spilled beyond 90 minutes. But once under the added-time spotlight, the Super Eagles flipped the script.
Chidera Ejuke swiftly restored the advantage, and Victor Osimhen, with icy calm and ruthless precision, buried two goals to silence any doubt. Akor Adams had earlier set the scoreboard in motion. With that emphatic flourish, Eric Sékou Chelle’s side now stand just one win away from Africa’s final World Cup access point.
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DR Congo, meanwhile, took the scenic, and far more stressful, route. Their 1–0 triumph over Cameroon arrived by the narrowest of margins and at the most dramatic moment. Captain Chancel Mbemba pounced on a Cipenga corner deep into stoppage time, delivering a finish that sent the Leopards and their supporters into rapture.
Before that breakthrough, Lionel Mpasi’s commanding presence in goal and Sébastien Desabre’s defensive blueprint kept Cameroon frustrated despite heavy pressure. André Onana’s saves kept the contest alive, but not long enough to stop Mbemba’s decisive touch.
Now, everything comes down to 90 minutes, or more, if the football gods demand it. The winner books a ticket to the six-team Inter-Continental Play-Off in March, where two golden World Cup slots await. The loser sees their journey to the 2026 global finals come to an abrupt and painful halt.
Egypt, Senegal, South Africa, Cape Verde, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Algeria, Tunisia and Ghana have already sealed their qualification by topping their groups, leaving Nigeria and DR Congo to fight for Africa’s final lifeline.
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