The Super Eagles will not be at the 2026 World Cup as DR Congo picked the sole African ticket for the Intercontinental play off coming up in March next year in Mexico.
This will be the second time Nigeria has failed to qualify for the world cup back-to-back since the country made her debut in 1994 in United States of America.
Nigeria has been to six mundial since then in 1994, 1998, 2002, missing out in 2006 in Germany but bounced back in 2010, 2014 and 2018.
In 2022 in Qatar, Nigeria lost out to Ghana under Amaju Pinnick and sad enough under Ibrahim Gusau board Nigeria also failed to pick the ticket after falling into one of the easiest groups for the African qualifiers.
The Leopards of DR Congo defeated the Super Eagles 4-3 on penaties after the match had ended 1-1 at full and extra time.
Before the penalty shoot out, DR Congo replaced goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, with Timothy Fayulu, who saved the crucial kick from Semiu Ajayi after Calvin Bassey, and Moses Simon had lost theirs.
Jerome Akor and Brown Onyemeachi were the only two Nigerians to score from the spot, and Stanley Nwabali saved two of the Congolese penalties.
Nigeria took the lead in the third minute from Frank Onyeka while DR Congo got their equalizer from Meshack Elia in the 32nd minute off an assist from Wilfred Ndidi after Cedric Bakambu had put him through.
Despit the 50,000 dollars per goal promised the Eagles, they could not come to the party and regrettably a generation of players may not play at the mundial until they retire.
DR Congo will now fly Africa’s flag at the six nation tournament play off in Mexico with the host Confederation, CONCACAF presenting two teams, Africa one, Oceania one and CONMEBOL also one.