2026 FIFA World Cup Playoffs: Cameroon slumps, DRC sets up final continental battle against Nigeria
By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
The Super Eagles of Nigeria would next Sunday confront the Leopards of Democratic Republic of Congo in the final match of the African series of the 2026 FIFA World Cup continental playoff.
The Leopards captain, Chancel Mbemba secured the late finish to give his country an 0-1 victory against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, who are five times African champions.
The Cameroonians hold the highest world cup appearances honour on the continent, they have featured at the largest football fiesta eight times on record.
DR Congo, formerly called Zaire had one world cup appearance ,in 1974 , since then had failed to return to the global stage.
The super eagles of Nigeria walloped Gabon 4-1 to reach 2026 FIFA World Cup African play-off Final .
At the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay El Hassan the Eagles had created two opportunities within the first four minutes, with stand-in captain Wilfred Ndidi’s free-kick going a little above the sticks and Akor Adams’ shot as the ball fell to him in the box failing to threaten Loyce Mbaba.
In the 11th minute, Alex Iwobi, winning his 90th cap, saw his shot rise a little too high, and four minutes later, Mbaba and his guardsmen thwarted another Nigerian attack propelled by Bright Osayi-Samuel.
Within five minutes, Victor Osimhen narrowly missed target three times, but would not relent, and actually thought he had put Nigeria ahead when South African referee Tom Abongile stopped play to converse with the Video Assistant Referee on whether his headed ball had gone past the line. A goal was not given, eventually.
In the second half, the Panthers became more aggressive and the game flowed back and forth. Abongile actually stopped play for a possible penalty against Nigeria, but he did not give it, eventually.
In the 78th minute, Adams was on the alert to intercept a pass by defender Aaron Ondele to goalkeeper Mbaba, keep his cool and slot into the empty net to put Nigeria ahead.
However, with one minute left in regulation time, Mario Lemina latched onto a headed ball by Osayi-Samuel and beat goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali with a fierce shot to the latter’s right.
Osimhen was on the break-away after a pass out of defence by Simon Moses in the last minute of added time, but saw his shot beat both the goalkeeper and the goalpost.
Instead of being discouraged, Nigeria became more determined, and seven minutes into the first half of extra time, Ndidi grabbed the ball in the middle, proceeded gracefully and found Chidera Ejuke who sliced the ball past Mbaba for Nigeria’s second.
Just two minutes later, it was over as a contest, as the magnificent Benjamin Fredericks, launching an onslaught from his defensive position, carefully threaded his pass for Osimhen to score his 30th senior goal for Nigeria in his 45th game.
Five minutes into the second half of extra time, the predator in Osimhen gave everyone a goal to remember, chesting down a floated ball into the box and dancing past two defenders before placing it past a hapless Mbaba for Nigeria’s fourth. It was the 2023 Africa Player of the Year’s 31st goal in 45 matches for Nigeria at senior level, keeping him only six goals short of the leading marksman, Rashidi Yekini of blessed memory.
DR Congo will file out against Nigeria side in the kingdom’s capital on Sunday.
The winner of the CAF play-off final will advance to a six-team intercontinental qualifier, which will be played in March , when the final two tickets for next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States would be determined .
The JF Kennedy Cultural Centre in Washington DC in the US will on December 5, 2025 play host to the draws of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
