World Cup
Nigeria, DR Congo Renew Rivalry in 10th Meeting as World Cup Play-Off Final Beckons
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria and DR Congo will square off for the 10th time on Sunday in Rabat, with a coveted African slot in next year’s FIFA World Cup inter-confederation play-offs at stake. The Super Eagles go into the clash with the historical edge, having won five of their nine previous encounters.
Of the past meetings, three were competitive matches at the Africa Cup of Nations — and Nigeria triumphed in all of them.
Their most iconic victory came in 1976, when the then Green Eagles stunned defending champions Zaire (now DR Congo) 4–2 in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, in the opening Group B match. Nigeria eventually finished third in that tournament behind winners Morocco and runners-up Guinea.
Their rivalry dates back to 1966, when both nations met twice in friendly games. Nigeria won the first encounter 3–2 in Lagos but lost the return match 1–0 in Kinshasa.
DR Congo’s biggest victory over Nigeria came three years later, in December 1969, when the host nation thrashed the Green Eagles 5–0 in Kinshasa — still their largest winning margin in the fixture.
Since then, most matches have swung Nigeria’s way. They defeated DR Congo again at the 1992 and 1994 AFCON tournaments and claimed a 5–2 win in a 2010 friendly in Abuja.
That match, played largely with home-based players, doubled as a send-off game on the day Lars Lagerbäck was unveiled as Super Eagles coach for the 2010 World Cup.
Only three regular internationals — Sani Kaita, Elderson Echiejile and Obinna Nsofor — featured briefly.
The sides met in another send-off match on 28 May 2018 in Port Harcourt, ending 1–1. Current captain William Troost-Ekong scored for Nigeria, while Ben Malango earned DR Congo a draw from the penalty spot.
Their most recent victory in the series belongs to DR Congo — a 2–0 win in a 2015 friendly in Belgium. Chancel Mbemba, who scored in Thursday’s semi-final win over Cameroon to mark his 100th international cap, is the only player from that match still in the Congolese squad.
Head-to-Head Summary
TEAM P W D L F A Nigeria 9 5 1 3 16 15 DR Congo 9 3 1 5 15 16 DATE COMPETITION VENUE SCORELINE 5 November 1966 Friendly Lagos Nigeria 3-2 (Zaire) DR Congo 27 November 1966 Friendly Kinshasa Zaire (DR Congo) 1-0 Nigeria 13 December 1969 Friendly Kinshasa Zaire (DR Congo) 5-0 Nigeria 1 March 1976 AFCON Dire Dawa (Ethiopia) Zaire (DR Congo) 2-4 Nigeria 19 January 1992 AFCON Ziguinchor (Senegal) Zaire (DR Congo) 0-1 Nigeria 2 April 1994 AFCON Tunis, Tunisia Zaire (DR Congo) 0-2 Nigeria 3 March 2010 Friendly Abuja Nigeria 5-2 DR Congo 8 October 2015 Friendly Vise, Belgium DR Congo 2-0 Nigeria 28 May 2018 Friendly Port Harcourt Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo
As they prepare for Sunday’s decisive play-off final, Nigeria are targeting a seventh World Cup appearance. DR Congo, meanwhile, hope to return to the global stage for the first time since 1974, when as Zaire they conceded 14 goals without scoring in group-stage losses to Yugoslavia (0–9), Scotland (0–2) and Brazil (0–3).
Sunday’s match in Rabat promises another intense chapter in a long-running rivalry — and a defining moment for both teams’ World Cup ambitions.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Nigeria have received a major boost ahead of Sunday’s World Cup qualifying play-off final against DR Congo, as midfielder Wilfred Ndidi has been cleared to play despite earlier fears of suspension.
The Besiktas star was initially thought to be ruled out of the decisive match after receiving what was believed to be his second yellow card of the qualifying campaign during Thursday’s 4–1 victory over Gabon in the semi-final. His first caution had come in 2024 against Benin, a match the Super Eagles won 3–0.
Under previously understood rules, two yellow cards accumulated during the qualification process would trigger a suspension for the subsequent game.
Head coach Eric Chelle had resigned himself to losing the influential midfielder after the caution against Gabon.
However, the Nigeria Football Federation announced on Saturday that Ndidi remains eligible to play. CAF has clarified that yellow cards received during the standard qualifying rounds do not carry over into the play-off stage.
This interpretation leaves Ndidi with only one booking—picked up in the play-off semi-final—meaning he is fully available for the final in Rabat.
Nigeria advanced to Sunday’s showdown after defeating Gabon, while DR Congo clinched their spot with a late win over Cameroon.
The winner in Rabat will qualify for the inter-confederation play-offs scheduled for March next year in Mexico, where Africa’s final representative for the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be decided.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria may line up with a new captain on Sunday when the Super Eagles take on DR Congo in the decisive FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off in Rabat, with reports from the UK suggesting that Victor Osimhen is under consideration to wear the armband.
Stand-in skipper Wilfred Ndidi is suspended for the clash after picking up an early yellow card in Thursday’s 4–1 victory over Gabon, while substantive captain William Troost-Ekong is not guaranteed to start.
British newspaper The Standard reports that the uncertainty surrounding Ekong’s return — following Benjamin Fredrick’s commanding performance in central defence — has opened the door for Osimhen to step forward as team leader.
Coach Eric Chelle is now weighing his options, with Osimhen, Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon all mentioned as possible choices to lead Nigeria out for the crucial fixture.
Troost-Ekong himself endorsed Osimhen’s leadership qualities during an appearance on Victor Mondo’s YouTube channel, describing the former Napoli striker as one of the emerging leaders in the squad.
“We have players who are really coming of age and showing what they can do,” the former Super Eagles captain said, noting Osimhen’s growing influence on and off the pitch.
Osimhen has long been viewed as a driving force within the team — vocal, energetic, and a natural motivator whose presence often lifts the squad.
With Nigeria’s World Cup hopes hanging in the balance, his elevation to captain could further inspire the team in Rabat.
Beyond the captaincy puzzle, Chelle must also address a major gap in midfield created by Ndidi’s suspension.
The former Leicester City star has been central to Nigeria’s structure throughout the qualifying series, and his absence will require significant tactical adjustments.
The Super Eagles face DR Congo on Sunday night with a ticket to the FIFA Inter-Continental Play-Off on the line — and possibly with Victor Osimhen leading them into battle.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
By Kunle Solaja.
As Nigeria prepare for Sunday night’s high-stakes FIFA World Cup qualifying play-off final against DR Congo in Rabat, one name stands out in the Congolese lineup — Chancel Mbemba. For the Super Eagles, stopping the 30-year-old defence marshal could prove just as important as breaking down the Congolese attack.
He was in the DR Congo team that beat the Super Eagles in a friendly match played at the Stade de la Cité de l’Oie, Visé in Belgium in 2015.
Mbemba, the inspirational captain of the Leopards, reached a historic milestone last Thursday when he earned his 100th international cap in DR Congo’s semi-final victory over Cameroon. And he marked the occasion in heroic fashion.
With the match heading for extra time, the former Olympique Marseille defender stepped up in the final seconds of added time, smashing home the only goal of the game and sending DR Congo into Sunday’s final.
Even more remarkably, he delivered that decisive moment after playing the entire second half under the shadow of a possible expulsion, having been booked before halftime.
His performance embodied the grit and resilience that have defined this Congolese generation — qualities Nigeria must be wary of.
“I am experiencing this moment thanks to the work, rigour and discipline that I strive to apply every day. Nothing has been easy, but each step has made me stronger,” Mbemba wrote on his social media handle, as reported by DR Congo daily Actualité.
For Nigerian fans, Mbemba’s influence is not unfamiliar. He has faced Nigeria several times across youth and senior categories, always displaying calm leadership and a knack for rising in big moments.
Coming through the ranks at FC MK in Kinshasa, Mbemba represents a rarity in Congolese football — a player developed entirely on home soil who rose to elite European status.
Today, he is widely regarded as one of Africa’s finest defenders, with his remarkable discipline and consistency placing him among the continent’s most respected captains.
As the Super Eagles aim to extend their World Cup dream, they will have to deal not only with DR Congo’s attacking threats but with the commanding presence of their centurion skipper.
Mbemba is the heartbeat of the Leopards — organiser in defence, motivator in the dressing room, and, as Cameroon discovered, a match-winner when it matters most.
On Sunday, Nigeria will need focus, precision, and vigilance. And at the centre of that vigilance will be Chancel Mbemba.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- World Cup1 week ago
CAF Under Pressure as South African Referee Reportedly Dropped from Nigeria–Gabon World Cup Play-off
- World Cup1 week ago
NFF Protests Appointment of South African and Beninese Officials for Nigeria–Gabon World Cup Play-off
- World Cup4 days ago
Super Eagles training boycott may snowball into match forfeiture
- World Cup1 week ago
Osimhen, Ekong, Iwobi Headline Nigeria’s 24-Man Squad for World Cup Play-off Tournament in Rabat
- World Cup3 days ago
Clear and Present Danger Looms Ahead of Gabon Clash
- AFCON4 days ago
Morocco Offers Free Electronic Visas for AFCON 2025 Fans via YALLA App
- World Cup2 days ago
DR Congo Set Up Play-Off Final Showdown With Nigeria After Stunning Late Win Over Cameroon
- World Cup4 days ago
Super Eagles Boycott Training in Rabat Over Unpaid Bonuses, Ahead of Gabon Clash