Nigeria is set to meet the Democratic Republic of Congo in the concluding play-off of the World Cup qualifying series on Sunday, following a tense semi-final round that required extra time for resolution.
Nigeria’s Journey to the Final
The Nigerian national team entered the semi-final under strained conditions after a training boycott caused by unpaid allowances, yet the group secured a 4-1 victory over Gabon in Rabat, Morocco, through a long and demanding contest.
Akor Adams produced the opening goal in the seventy-eighth minute, although former Southampton midfielder Mario Lemina created a late upset with an equalising effort in the eighty-ninth minute, which extended the match into extra time at the Moulay Hassan Stadium.
Chidera Ejuke restored the advantage early in extra time, while Victor Osimhen completed the win with two goals that ensured a place in the final.
DR Congo’s Path to the Final
The opposing semi-final displayed similar late tension, with Chancel Mbemba scoring during stoppage time to give DR Congo victory over Cameroon.
The Congolese side guided by Sébastien Desabre is attempting to reach only a second World Cup appearance, with the team’s sole participation recorded in 1974 under the name Zaire.
Cameroon, a nation with eight past World Cup appearances, has now missed the opportunity to qualify for a ninth tournament in Canada, Mexico and the United States.
Qualification Stakes and Player Availability
The upcoming fixture will determine which team progresses to the inter-confederation play-offs scheduled for next year in Mexico.
The major development from the semi-final relates to Wilfred Ndidi’s unavailability, created by an accumulation of yellow cards that has triggered an automatic suspension.
Victor Osimhen remains one caution away from a ban that could affect participation in future play-off fixtures should the Nigerian team advance.
Ndidi’s absence presents a significant concern, although Frank Onyeka appears the most probable replacement in midfield, even though the Brentford midfielder also faces suspension risk due to an earlier booking.
Under current regulations, yellow cards remain active until the World Cup finals, and any player who receives two bookings in separate qualifying matches becomes suspended for the next fixture.
DR Congo Team Condition
The DR Congo team reported no suspensions or injuries after the semi-final meeting with Cameroon.
Chancel Mbemba received the only booking in a match marked by frequent cautions, and caution will be required to avoid further disciplinary sanctions during the Nigeria encounter.
Tactical Comparison
Nigeria possesses strong attacking talent, while the DR Congo team is recognised for a compact and disciplined defensive structure.
The Congolese defence succeeded in preventing Bryan Mbeumo and other Cameroonian attackers from scoring, although the Nigerian frontline represented by Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams is expected to present a considerably more difficult challenge.
The defensive resilience shown against Cameroon may not be sufficient when confronted by the depth and quality of the Nigerian squad.
Pathway to World Cup Qualification
The winner of the final will join the inter-confederation play-offs, where two nations will secure qualification for the World Cup scheduled for next summer in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
In the African qualification format, teams were arranged into nine groups of six, with group winners automatically progressing. Classification was achieved by Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ghana, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia.
Nigeria, Gabon, DR Congo and Cameroon advanced as the four strongest runners-up, earning a chance to compete for Africa’s final slot in the play-offs.
Nigeria experienced a difficult start by failing to win any of the first four qualifiers, but performance improved significantly following the appointment of Eric Chelle in January, resulting in four wins and two draws that placed the team second behind South Africa.
DR Congo enjoyed a strong run in Group B, recording seven victories, although Senegal completed the group stage without defeat to finish as leaders. DR Congo’s only previous World Cup outing occurred in 1974 when the nation competed under the name Zaire.
Structure of the Inter-Confederation Play-Offs
The inter-confederation play-offs are set for March in North America, although specific dates and venues remain unconfirmed.
New Caledonia, the OFC finalist, and Bolivia, seventh in CONMEBOL’s standings, have already secured play-off positions.
In Asia, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq are contesting a two-legged fixture for a place in the play-offs, with a 1-1 result recorded in the first leg in Abu Dhabi and the second leg scheduled for Basra on 18 November.
The host confederation, CONCACAF, will contribute two teams to the play-offs based on the ranking of runners-up from the third qualification round, with Curacao and Costa Rica currently occupying those positions.
Once all six teams are confirmed, seeding will be based on FIFA rankings, and the two highest-ranked teams will advance directly to the final stage of their respective pathways.
The remaining unseeded teams will contest single-match semi-finals, with winners progressing to the pathway finals.
The two final winners will become the forty-seventh and forty-eighth teams to qualify for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
