The Super Eagles of Nigeria are set to face the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in a decisive 2026 FIFA World Cup Africa playoff final on Sunday, November 16, 2025. This high-stakes encounter, kicking off at 20:00 WAT at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, Morocco, will determine which team advances to the six-team Intercontinental Playoff Finals in March, moving one step closer to securing a spot in the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Nigeria secured their place in the final with a dramatic 4-1 extra-time victory over Gabon in the semi-finals, following goals from Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke, and a brace from star forward Victor Osimhen. Osimhen, with 31 goals in 45 appearances, is now closing in on Rashidi Yekini’s longstanding record of 37 international goals for Nigeria. DR Congo, on the other hand, edged out Cameroon 1-0, with captain Chancel Mbemba scoring a stoppage-time winner from a Brian Cipenga corner, showcasing their resilience and set-piece prowess.

A significant point of discussion leading up to the match was the eligibility of Nigeria's deputy captain and influential midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi. Initially, Ndidi was widely expected to miss the final after picking up his second yellow card of the qualifying/playoff series against Gabon. However, confusion arose following reports suggesting his earlier yellow card from the group stage might have been cancelled by FIFA. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) later confirmed that Ndidi is indeed eligible to play, clarifying that cautions accumulated during the World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the playoff stage. This news was met with some caution by Nigerian fans, who expressed concern about potential traps, but ultimately provides a major boost for the Super Eagles.

Head coach Eric Chelle, who has guided Nigeria through five competitive matches in this campaign without a loss, expressed confidence in his squad’s ability to manage Ndidi's initial perceived absence, highlighting options like Raphael Onyedika or Frank Onyeka. Now with Ndidi available, Chelle has more tactical flexibility. Other key players for Nigeria include Benjamin Fredrick and Calvin Bassey in central defence, Zaidu Sanusi at left-back, and attacking talents like Samuel Chukwueze, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi. For DR Congo, danger-men include captain Chancel Mbemba, Brian Cipenga, Noah Sadiki, Silas Katompa, and forwards Cédric Bakambu, Meshack Elia, Samuel Essende, and Fiston Mayele.

The winner of this final will advance to the Intercontinental Playoff Finals. The revamped format of these playoffs offers an advantage to the two highest-ranked nations, who will be seeded directly into the final qualifying matches in Mexico. If Nigeria, being one of the highest-ranked teams, wins on Sunday, their path to the 2026 World Cup would be simplified to a single, winner-takes-all match in Mexico (either Guadalajara or Monterrey). If unseeded, they would need to win two consecutive knockout games.

Former Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has backed the Super Eagles to win, but cautioned against underestimating DR Congo's physicality and dangerous set-pieces. Ahmed Garba ‘Yaro Yaro,’ another former Super Eagles forward, also expressed confidence, citing Nigeria’s recent goal-scoring form, which has seen them net eight goals in their last two matches (4-1 against Benin Republic and 4-1 against Gabon). The Super Eagles have won five of their last six matches and scored 14 goals in five competitive games.

Historically, DR Congo last participated in the World Cup in 1974, when they were known as Zaire, and are eager to end their 52-year drought. Nigeria aims for their seventh World Cup appearance since 1994. The head-to-head record between the two nations across six previous encounters sees DR Congo with a slight edge, having won three games to Nigeria's two, with one draw. Their last meeting in 2018 ended in a 1-1 friendly draw.

This clash promises intense football action, with both teams driven by the dream of World Cup qualification. For Nigerian fans unable to attend in Rabat, the match will be broadcast live on GoTV and SuperSport, and available for streaming on Sporty TV and FIFA+.