In a thrilling evening of African World Cup qualifying play-offs, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) emerged victorious from their semi-final clashes, setting up a final showdown for a place in the 2026 FIFA World Cup(sportsnet.ca). Nigeria overcame Gabon 4‑1 after extra time, powered by star striker Victor Osimhen’s two extra-time goals, while DR Congo stunned Cameroon 1‑0 thanks to a dramatic stoppage-time winner from captain Chancel Mbemba. The results mean Nigeria and DR Congo will meet in the African play-off final on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco, with the winner advancing to a six-team intercontinental playoff in March 2026 – the last hurdle to clinch one of two remaining World Cup berths.
This mini-tournament featured the four best group runners-up from African qualifying, all vying for a last chance to reach World Cup 2026. Nine other African nations (the winners of nine qualifying groups) have already booked their tickets to the expanded World Cup – a list that includes powerhouses like Morocco, Senegal, Egypt, and Côte d’Ivoire, as well as debutants such as Cape Verde. The high-profile presence of teams like Nigeria (6 previous World Cup appearances) and Cameroon (African-record 8 appearances) in these play-offs underlines the intensity of Africa’s road to the World Cup (cafonline.com). Below, we delve into each semi-final match, the key performances and tactical takeaways, and what these results imply for African hopes on the world’s biggest stage.
Nigeria vs Gabon: Osimhen’s Brilliance and Nigeria’s Extra-Time Surge
After 90 minutes of tense football, Nigeria’s Super Eagles eventually overpowered Gabon’s Panthers 4–1 in extra time – but not without a scare. Gabon frustrated Nigeria for much of the match with disciplined defending and heroic goalkeeping. Nigeria could have taken control earlier if not for missed opportunities; Osimhen saw a header whistle just wide and later drew a sharp save from Gabonese keeper Loyce Mbaba, who also reacted superbly to tip away a deflected ball that nearly resulted in an own-goal. The breakthrough finally came in the 78th minute: forward Akor Adams pounced on a defensive mix-up, rounded Mbaba, and rolled the ball into the net to give Nigeria a 1-0 lead. That long-awaited goal ignited the Nigerian supporters, yet it was not the end of the drama. In the 89th minute, Gabon’s veteran midfielder Mario Lemina fired a speculative shot that took a wicked deflection, wrong-footing Nigerian keeper Stanley Nwabili and sneaking in for a 1-1 equaliser. Lemina’s late strike stunned Nigeria and forced extra time, breathing new life into Gabon’s hopes at the death.
Once in extra time, however, Nigeria’s superior depth and firepower became evident. Eight minutes into the added period, substitute Chidera Ejuke restored Nigeria’s advantage, latching onto an incisive forward pass and thrashing home his first international goal to make it 2-1. From that moment, enter Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian talisman – who had earlier missed a golden chance to win the game in stoppage time of regulation when he fired wide after a brilliant Wilfred Ndidi through-ball – made amends in style. Osimhen took control of the match by netting two goals in extra time: first, a poacher’s close-range finish in the 102nd minute, and then a solo effort in the 110th, where he burst past defenders and buried a shot to put the result beyond doubt. It was a show of sheer determination and class from the Napoli striker. Osimhen’s relentlessness had been threatening all game, and in extra time it finally cracked a tiring Gabonese defense. Credit also goes to Nigeria’s midfield general Wilfred Ndidi, whose progressive passing repeatedly opened up Gabon’s defensive lanes and helped Nigeria sustain a high tempo. Ejuke’s direct running on the wing stretched Gabon’s back line further, creating space for Osimhen to exploit. In the end, Nigeria’s fitness and bench depth made the difference – they scored three unanswered goals in extra time, turning a nail-biting contest into a resounding win.
This victory keeps Nigeria’s World Cup dream alive. The Super Eagles, who last qualified for the World Cup in 2018, are now one step away from reaching their seventh World Cup finals appearance in nine attempts. By vanquishing Gabon, Nigeria also prevented what would have been a historic upset – Gabon has never reached a World Cup, and despite a valiant fight (they amassed an impressive 25 points in their qualifying group, just one behind giants Côte d’Ivoire, their campaign ends in heartbreak. For Nigeria, the result in Rabat showcased a team growing in confidence; notably, this play-off spot was barely secured in the first place (their final group game’s fourth goal proved decisive in claiming one of the best-runner-up slots). Now, buoyed by Osimhen’s red-hot form and a much-improved attacking cohesion, Nigeria head into the play-off final with momentum and the weight of expectation from a football-crazy nation.
DR Congo vs Cameroon: Mbemba’s Last-Gasp Strike in a Cagey Battle
Cameroon and DR Congo’s semi-final proved to be a tight, nervy affair – as many predicted given there were only six places between them in the FIFA rankings (aljazeera.com). On paper, Cameroon carried the pedigree: the Indomitable Lions have been to a record eight World Cup finals (more than any African nation) and even reached the quarter-finals in 1990. By contrast, DR Congo (the Leopards) have appeared at the World Cup only once, back in 1974 when the country was known as Zaire. However, history counted for little on the rain-soaked pitch in Rabat. From the outset, both teams adopted cautious tactics, mindful of what was at stake. The match was often bogged down in midfield battles, with few clear-cut chances as neither side wanted to over-commit. Indeed, Cameroon’s illustrious past gave them “little superiority over a determined Congolese side” amid the persistent rain and slick conditions.
As the game progressed, tactical discipline was the theme. DR Congo remained compact in defense, while Cameroon probed patiently, aware that one mistake could be fatal. The first half saw only half-chances – Congolese attackers Noah Sadiki and Théo Bongonda managed a couple of early attempts that didn’t truly trouble the goal, and Cameroonian forward Karl Toko-Ekambi (supported by fellow attackers Bryan Mbeumo and Vincent Aboubakar) searched for openings that the Leopards largely denied. The tempo increased slightly in the second half. In the 60th minute, Cameroon’s goalkeeper André Onana – fit to start despite being an injury doubt – had to make a crucial save, diving to push away a low drive from Bongonda at the expense of a corner. Moments later, at the other end, Manchester United striker Bryan Mbeumo broke in behind the Congolese back line for Cameroon’s best opportunity, but he steered his shot just wide of the far post from close range. It was a let-off for DR Congo and a sign that Cameroon was finally finding gaps. Aside from that, clear chances remained scarce; both sides were increasingly wary as the clock ticked down, knowing a single goal would likely decide it.
That decisive goal arrived in stoppage time – and it was DR Congo who found it. In the 91st minute (the first minute of added time at the end of the game), DR Congo earned a corner and captain Chancel Mbemba rose to the occasion. The veteran center-back snuck in unmarked at the back post and prodded home a corner delivery from Brian Cipenga, scoring a dramatic last-gasp winner to break the deadlock (reuters.com). Mbemba’s instinctive finish made it 1-0 to DR Congo and sent his team and supporters into delirium. It was a crushing blow for Cameroon – conceding virtually at the final whistle – and they had no time to respond. The cagey contest had been decided by a single defensive lapse at a set piece. For Cameroon, a nation with such a proud World Cup history, the defeat is devastating. The Indomitable Lions, who featured in the last World Cup (Qatar 2022) and boast legends of the sport, now miss out on 2026, halting their streak of consecutive qualifications. Meanwhile, DR Congo’s resilience paid off hugely: they weathered Cameroon’s pushes and capitalized on their one big chance, exemplifying the opportunism needed in knockout football. The Leopards advance to the play-off final, keeping alive their dream of returning to the World Cup after 52 years. Their disciplined performance against a historically stronger opponent will give them belief that they can overcome one more African rival and perhaps achieve a fairytale qualification.
Road Ahead: World Cup Qualification Stakes for Africa
The stage is set for the African play-off final on Sunday in Rabat, where Nigeria will face DR Congo for the continent’s last remaining spot in the FIFA inter-confederation Play-off Tournament. At stake in that March 2026 tournament will be two tickets to World Cup 2026. The African play-off winner will join five other teams in a six-nation showdown held in the United States just months before the World Cup. Those teams include Bolivia (from South America) and New Caledonia (from Oceania), who have already secured their playoff slots, as well as an Asian representative (either Iraq or the UAE, pending their playoff) and two teams from the CONCACAF region. The format will see the lower-ranked nations play off in semifinals, with the winners then meeting the seeded teams; ultimately, the two final winners in that mini-tournament earn World Cup berths. Notably, no European team is involved in this playoff, meaning the African contender will avoid UEFA opposition – but the field will still be formidable, and nothing will come easy at this last hurdle.
For Africa, the expanded 48-team World Cup in 2026 is already a landmark moment. The continent is guaranteed nine participants (the most ever), and could potentially have a tenth if the play-off winner succeeds in March. The list of African qualifiers so far features many familiar heavyweights – for example, Morocco (a World Cup semi-finalist in 2022), Senegal, Tunisia, Egypt, Ghana, and Algeria – as well as newcomers like Cape Verde who will make their World Cup debut. Adding Nigeria to that mix via the playoffs would reinforce Africa’s representation with a proven tournament team full of talent and experience. If DR Congo were to qualify instead, it would be a Cinderella story for a country that hasn’t seen the World Cup in generations, potentially energizing fans across Africa with a fresh underdog narrative. Either way, the final play-off and subsequent intercontinental tournament carry huge significance: they will decide if Africa’s contingent at World Cup 2026 will gain that extra member, which could improve the continent’s odds of making a deep run in the competition.
Outlook and Predictions
On paper, Nigeria will be favored in the play-off final against DR Congo. The Super Eagles have a star-studded squad and seem to be peaking at the right time – not least because of Victor Osimhen’s sensational form. (Osimhen is currently one of Europe’s most feared strikers, even leading the UEFA Champions League scoring charts this season sportsnet.ca.) If Nigeria can replicate the attacking verve and relentless pressure they showed in extra time against Gabon, they have a strong chance to overwhelm DR Congo. Their mix of creativity (through players like Ndidi and Alex Iwobi), pace on the flanks, and Osimhen’s clinical finishing could prove decisive. However, write off DR Congo at your peril. The Leopards have just proven their mettle by knocking out Cameroon, and they did so with defensive organization and clutch scoring when it mattered most. DR Congo will approach the final with nothing to lose and a robust game plan to contain Nigeria’s threats. If they can frustrate Nigeria in a similar way Gabon did for 90 minutes, the pressure could shift onto the Nigerian side. Keep an eye on DR Congo’s experienced leaders like Chancel Mbemba at the back and Cédric Bakambu up front – they will need to be at their best to pull off an upset.
Looking further ahead, whichever team wins on Sunday will face an even sterner test in the March intercontinental playoffs. They would likely need to win two high-stakes matches in a matter of days against quality opponents from other continents. Nigeria, should they advance, would bring a pedigree and squad depth that might actually make them favorites to clinch one of the two World Cup tickets on offer – their attacking firepower and tournament experience could give them an edge in a pressure scenario. For DR Congo, simply reaching that tournament would be a historic achievement; they would embrace the underdog role and could spring a surprise if underestimated. African football enthusiasts will be hoping for the best – the dream is to see either Nigeria’s green or DR Congo’s blue added to the list of World Cup 2026 participants, making it a full ten from Africa. The performances in these semi-finals showed that both squads possess grit and match-winners. If those qualities carry through, Africa’s last contender in the playoffs will have every chance to fight their way to the World Cup. One thing is certain: the journey is full of drama, and the continent will be watching with anticipation as the final chapter of African qualification unfolds.
Sources: The match details and quotes are drawn from official reports and news articles covering the CAF World Cup 2026 Qualifiers play-offs. These include FIFA/CAF match reports, Reuters and Associated Press summaries, and analysis by Al Jazeera, all of which provide insight into the key moments, player performances, and context of the African play-off semi-finals. These sources have been referenced to ensure an accurate and comprehensive overview of the events and their significance.
Discover more from ADUNAGOW Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
