by Christopher Clinton 

The Super Eagles of Nigeria faced off against DR Congo in a thrilling World Cup qualification match yesterday, and it was a heartbreaker for Nigerian fans. 

The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes, with Frank Onyeka scoring for Nigeria in the 3rd minute and Meschack Elia equalizing for DR Congo in the 32nd minute, The game went into penalties, and DR Congo emerged victorious, winning 4-3 in the shootout. 

Despite dominating possession and creating chances, Nigeria's Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi missed their penalties, while DR Congo's goalkeeper, Timothy Fayulu, made crucial saves to seal the win. DR Congo will now represent Africa in the intercontinental playoff, keeping their World Cup hopes alive. 

The Super Eagles, on the other hand, will have to regroup and focus on The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 which kick-off on December 21, 2025, in Morocco. The tournament will run until January 18, 2026, featuring 24 teams competing in six groups of four. The opening match will be between host nation Morocco and Comoros at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat..