Huge surprise in the preliminaries! The national team, valued at almost 300 million euros, is OUT
Article by Romeo Ene – Published on Monday, 17 November 2025, 07:56 / Updated on Monday, 17 November 2025 08:02
Surprise on Sunday evening, in the preliminaries of the 2026 World Championship. Nigeria, a national team that includes footballers such as Alex Iwobi (29 years old), Victor Osimhen (26 years old) or Ademola Lookman (28 years old), missed out on qualifying for the final tournament after being eliminated by DR Congo on penalty kicks (3-4).
It was 1-1 after the first 90 minutes, and the score did not change even in overtime. Nigerian Frank Onyeka (27 years old) opened the scoring quickly in the match that was played in Morocco, in Rabat.
And Meschack Elia restored the tie in the 32nd minute, which was also the final score after 120 minutes. Osimhen, the Champions League goalscorer, was replaced at half-time by Akor Adams due to injury.
VIDEO | Nigeria collapsed in the penalty shootout. DR Congo could play with Olăroiu on the way to the World Cup
In the 120th minute, practically in the last seconds of the game, the selector Sebastien Desabre decided to change the goalkeeper, in view of shots from 11 meters. Lionel Mpasi-Nzau made way for Timoty Fayulu and the move proved inspired.
In the shootout, DR Congo missed twice, but Nigeria did it three times, so the national team rated by the specialist website Transfermarkt at 295 million euros will stay at home.
They missed: Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi (Nigeria), respectively Samuel Moutoussamy and Axel Tuanzebe (DR Congo).
They scored: Akor Adams, Bruno Onyemaechi, Chidera Ejuke (Nigeria), respectively Noah Sadiki, Fiston Mayele, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo).
Following this result, DR Congo go to the intercontinental play-off in March to qualify for the World Cup.
There will be 6 national teams from 5 confederations: two from CONCACAF (North America) and one each from AFC (Asia), CAF (Africa), CONMEBOL (South America) and OFC (Oceania).
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DR Congo has not qualified for a World Cup since 1974!
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Nigeria misses out on the World Cup again. She was not even present at the one in Qatar, from 2022.
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The intercontinental playoff tournament in March will take place in Mexico and will award the last two tickets to the World Championship.
DR Congo could even run into the United Arab Emirates, the national team trained by Cosmin Olăroiu, at the intercontinental dam. First of all, the Romanian team should get past Iraq. In the round, the two national teams drew, score 1-1.
