Key Points

• Nigeria and DR Congo enter a tense World Cup playoff battle.

• Osimhen’s scoring surge fuels Nigeria’s confidence.

• DR Congo’s discipline adds pressure to the World Cup playoff battle.

Nigeria and DR Congo have been fighting their way through Africa’s most unpredictable qualifying path for months, and now both teams are just one match away from keeping their World Cup hopes alive. The two teams moved on after finishing as the best runners-up in nine African groups. This gave them a rare second chance in a qualifying format that doesn’t often forgive mistakes.

Victor Osimhen was the driving force behind Nigeria’s path. He has found his scoring rhythm again just when the Super Eagles need it most. But with French coach Sébastien Desabre changing DR Congo, the next 90 minutes may be a lot harder than Nigeria’s world ranking advantage suggests.

Osimhen is helping Nigeria get ready to qualify

Osimhen had one of the best games of the semifinals, scoring twice in extra time to help Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1. It was another chapter in a run of form that recently saw him score three goals in a 4-0 win over Benin. That win helped Nigeria get into the playoff picture.

The Galatasaray striker is 26 years old now and still wears a mask to protect his face from the injuries he got four years ago, but he still makes defences look bad. He could have easily scored six goals against Gabon, as he kept getting into dangerous areas and then missing a late chance with only the custodian to beat. He said afterward, “I was gutted,” and he promised his teammates he would make up for it in extra time, which he did.

World Cup playoff battle

Nigeria is ranked 19 spots higher than DR Congo by FIFA, but head coach Eric Chelle doesn’t believe they are the favourites. The Ivorian-born coach, who used to coach Mali, said that the win over Gabon “means nothing” because he is preparing for a very different kind of game. For Chelle, what matters is passion, not rankings.

Nigeria has never missed back-to-back World Cups since it first entered in 1994. The team is still upset about losing a playoff to Ghana in 2022. The last time DR Congo made it to the tournament was in 1974, when it was called Zaire. The Leopards are much more disciplined and stable now that Desabre is in charge. Captain Chancel Mbemba’s late goal in the semifinal sent Cameroon home.

DR Congo is ready for the World Cup playoff fight

Desabre says that his team’s progress “has not happened overnight,” pointing to the players’ growing tactical maturity and confidence. Mbemba, a great defender for Lille, has become the team’s emotional heart. The Congolese think that if they keep the game close and hard, they can throw Nigeria off balance.

The 22,000-seat Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan Stadium will host the first competitive match between the two countries. Nigeria has played in 16 qualifying campaigns and DR Congo has played in 12. Bolivia, New Caledonia, Jamaica, Panama, and maybe Iraq or the UAE are already in queue for intercontinental spots. This means that Africa’s remaining tickets are going fast.

This is not just another qualifier for Nigeria and DR Congo; it is a make-or-break night that could define a generation of players.