Nigeria, after a rocky qualifying campaign, must beat the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Sunday’s CAF playoff final to stay alive in their World Cup push.
According to a report from ESPN, Nigeria’s national football team is just two victories from salvaging their World Cup qualification hopes after a turbulent qualifying campaign. Colin Udoh writes that the Super Eagles failed to secure a direct berth and must now navigate a CAF playoff final in Rabat, Morocco, against the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Coach Eric Sekou Chelle has downplayed past missteps, insisting, “I don’t want to talk about what happened before … Since I come here, we try to work … to create an identity.” His philosophy centers on a disciplined defensive structure and sharper offensive play, which he says his squad has steadily grasped.
ESPN’s report highlights Nigeria’s impressive recent form: the team won three and drew one of their last four games, scoring eight goals and conceding only two. Their 4–1 win over Gabon in the semi-final brought their total to 12 goals for and just three against across their final matches — a sharp turnaround from earlier in the campaign.
The report also spotlights the vital role of star forward Victor Osimhen, arguing his influence—both in scoring and leadership—will be critical to Nigeria’s chances of beating a resurgent DR Congo side.