Nigeria's aspirations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a painful end in Rabat, as the Super Eagles suffered a dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in a tense and exhausting playoff final. The loss not only dashed the nation's World Cup dreams but also ignited significant controversy and widespread disappointment across the country.

The match itself was a gripping affair, with Nigeria striking early in the third minute through Frank Onyeka's deflected effort. However, Meschak Elia capitalized on errors by Wilfred Ndidi and Alex Iwobi to equalize for DR Congo two minutes past the hour mark. After 120 gruelling minutes of play, with neither side able to find a winner, the score remained 1-1, sending the contest into a high-pressure penalty shootout.

During the shootout, Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali emerged as a hero, making two brilliant saves to keep Nigeria in contention. Despite Nwabali's heroics, Semi Ajayi's sudden-death miss proved decisive, opening the door for DR Congo's Chancel Mbemba to convert the winning penalty and secure his team's advancement to the intercontinental playoffs.

Following the heartbreaking defeat, Nigeria's head coach, Éric Sékou Chelle, sparked major controversy with explosive accusations against DR Congo's staff. Chelle alleged that DR Congo's players engaged in