Nigeria vs. DR Congo live score: World Cup qualifying updates, highlights, result from CAF playoff final

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• Nigeria vs. DR Congo score
• Nigeria vs. DR Congo latest updates and highlights
• Starting lineups and team news
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Nigeria are 90 minutes away from a spot in the intercontinental playoffs as they meet DR Congo in the CAF World Cup qualification playoff final on Sunday in Morocco.

The Super Eagles dramatically downed Gabon in their semifinal by a 4-1 score, with the match sent to extra time level at 1-1 before Nigeria scored three times in the additional period.

Nigeria suffered through a difficult qualification process, falling short of an automatic spot at the 2026 World Cup by finishing behind South Africa in their group. Now they must settle for an intercontinental playoff push, seeking to be one of six teams gunning for the last two spots at next summer's tournament.

They meet 60th-ranked DR Congo, who also reached this stage in dramatic fashion, with a 91st-minute goal from Chancel Mbemba seeing them past Cameroon in the other semifinal.

Nigeria vs. DR Congo live score

Location: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Rabat, Morocco)
Referee: Jalal Jayed (MOR)

Starting lineups:

Nigeria (4-4-2, right to left): 23. Nwabali (GK) — 2. Fredrick, 6. Ajayi, 21. Bassey, 3. Sanusi — 11. Chukwueze (Ejuke, 57'), 8. Onyeka, 17. Iwobi (Arokodare, 77'), 4. Ndidi — 9. Osimhen (Adams, 46'), 7. Lookman (Simon, 57').

DR Congo (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Mpasi-Nzau (GK) — 2. Wan-Bissaka, 22. Mbemba, 4. Tuanzebe, 14. Masuaku — 6. Muaku (Kayembe, 71'), 11. Sadiki, 8. Moutoussamy — 13. Elia (Cipenga, 72'), 17. Bakambu (Mayele, 59'), 7. Mbuku.

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Nigeria vs. DR Congo live updates, highlights from World Cup qualifier

HALFTIME OF EXTRA-TIME: Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo

It feels as though that entire 15 minutes was played in the Nigeria half, as the Super Eagles struggled to put anything notable together. DR Congo don't exactly have the quality to punish them, and it feels like Nigeria know that.

95th min: Chance, DR Congo! The Leopards have the ball in the back of the net, but the referee has blown for a foul! Brian Cipenga went to try a bicycle kick, and is interrupted by a charging Stanley Nwabali. While Cipenga stopped his effort before kicking the Nigeria goalkeeper in the head, he is adjudged to have fouled Nwabali, who spills to the turf.

The ball is then deposited into the net, and for a moment the DR Congo players and fans believe they've found a winner, but quickly their hopes are dashed as they realised what has happened.

Kickoff of extra-time: The players have had their rest and are back out on the pitch to begin a decisive 30 minutes of extra-time! Hopefully it's even slightly more entertaining than the last 45 minutes of regulation.

If we can't determine a winner here, it will go to a penalty shootout! At this point, you feel as though that outcome might be likely.

Osimhen has just emerged from the tunnel and sat down on the bench pic.twitter.com/U4LaSP73mN

— Jay Harris (@jaydmharris) November 16, 2025

END OF REGULATION: Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo

A truly drab final 45 minutes mercifully comes to an end as we are still without a winner. Nigeria in particular look completely drained, and tired legs forced the withdrawal of some of their most iconic star players.

DR Congo tried their best to take advantage of their opponents' lack of energy, but were wholly unable to produce much of anything.

We now have another 30 minutes to play before this one goes to a penalty shootout.

89th min: Fiston Mayele goes for a spectacular finish, attempting a bicycle kick on the outer edge of the six-yard box, but he completely whiffs.

Nigeria have completely gone into their shell, while DR Congo are pushing hard for a winner. Eric Chelle is losing his cool on the touchline, as he can feel the tide of this match shifting decisively in favour of his opponents.

Three minutes of added time are shown. Nigeria look utterly exhausted.

83rd min: Chance, DR Congo! Oh NO, nearly a catastrophic error by Stanley Nwabali to gift DR Congo a goal, but they somehow get away with it!

Nwabali receives a back-pass and gives it straight to Fiston Mayele, but Brian Cipenga can't collect the loose ball and his tight-angle shot is saved by a scrambling Nwabali! So close to a disaster for Nigeria!

77th min: Eric Chelle makes another big call, hauling off the vital Alex Iwobi who has been mistake-prone today but also remains an important piece of this Nigeria side. Iwobi, Osimhen, and Lookman are now all off the pitch.

72nd min: This game has completely and utterly devolved. Neither side has any interest in risking a deficit to find a winner.

57th min: YIKES. Nigeria get away with one as Ademola Lookman comes through to scrape the ball off Noah Sadiki, but the referee waves away a relatively contentious penalty shout. The Super Eagles are quite lucky that wasn't given a longer look as play continues.

It's Lookman's last action of the match, as he's swiftly hooked by Eric Chelle and replaced by Moses Simon, while Chidera Ejuke also enters in place of a quiet Samuel Chukwueze.

53rd min: DR Congo have a few looks on goal, but Stanley Nwabali manages to smother a tight-angle redirect at the near post off a corner to end the threat. The start to the second half has been largely cagey with Victor Osimhen no longer involved.

2nd half kickoff: They're back under way for the second half, and there is some massive injury news for Nigeria as Victor Osimhen is withdrawn, replaced by Akor Adams. That's a huge blow to the Super Eagles, and it's unclear what exactly the issue is for the Nigeria star to see him taken off in such an important game.

HALFTIME: Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo

We're level at the break, with 45 minutes left to decide who will keep their World Cup hopes alive!

Nigeria started the match the better side, profiting almost immediately as they went in front through Frank Onyeka. Victor Osimhen has been a menace, but has had little help.

The Super Eagles faded as the half went on, and DR Congo took over the attacking impetus, turning Nigeria over in midfield on a number of occasions. They found a deserved goal of their own through Meschack Elia just past the half-hour mark, and they pushed for a second as the half wound down, unable to profit but looking bright moving forward.

It's all to play for as the teams have a chance to regroup!

32nd min: GOAL! DR CONGO! MESCHACK ELIA HAS THE EQUALISER! NIGERIA HAVE BEEN PUNISHED FOR TAKING THEIR FOOT OFF THE GAS!

Alex Iwobi turns the ball over in midfield, and the underdogs spread it out wide right for Cedric Bakambu who works against Semi Ajayi one-on-one. There's room for a cross, and Bakambu sends it across the face of goal to Elia, who had snuck in behind a totally unaware Wilfred Ndidi to meet it.

Ndidi got a touch on the ball, but he had no idea that Elia had crept in around behind him, and it fell right to his feet for the thumping close-range finish!

Watch in USA:

Congo DR get one right back! 🇨🇩 pic.twitter.com/UV2RLLdb89

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 16, 2025

31st min: Viktor Osimhen is running DR Congo ragged, but he's got very little help. He gets free down the right and has room for a cross as he races to the end line, but there's nobody there to meet it.

26th min: Nigeria are pressing for a second, and another poor DR Congo clearance falls to Wilfred Ndidi who races onto the airbourne ball and rifles a volley on net. It's driven low with pace, but too central to evade Mpasi-Nzau who gets down to smother the chance.

18th min: Benjamin Fredrick, who played in central defence in the semifinal and has been moved out wide to the right, has struggled to defend in space, committing back-to-back fouls, this time felling Arthur Masuaku to concede a good free-kick opportunity for DR Congo. It's wasted, though, as yet another dead ball situation is overhit.

13th min: What was the DR Congo back line thinking??? They almost allow Victor Osimhen to close down the goalkeeper on the ball, with Mpasi-Nzau forced to just boot it through Osimhen's legs straight over the end line for a corner.

The set-piece is wasted as it's overhit above everyone by Samuel Chukwueze and out for a goal kick.

4th min: GOAL! NIGERIA! FRANK ONYEKA SCORES THE OPENER JUST MINUTES INTO THE GAME!

A cross from the left isn't cleared properly, and it falls to Onyeka who rifles a deflected shot that finds the back of the net! The deflection off the outstretched foot of Axel Tuanzebe was critical, as it did appear as though Lionel Mpasi-Nzau had the shot covered if it had made its way to the goalkeeper untouched.

Watch in USA:

Frank Onyeka scores in the opening minutes for Nigeria 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/pKVAIY6cca

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) November 16, 2025

Kickoff: They're under way in Rabat! Who will keep their World Cup hopes alive, and who will find themselves just short?

Nigeria vs. DR Congo: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more

15 mins to kickoff: It was a relatively long trip to Morocco for both these countries, but DR Congo fans certainly had it tougher, forced to travel a full two-thirds of the African continent to reach the neutral venue for today's match!

All set for the African 2026 World Cup playoff in Rabat, #Morocco. Pic.twitter.com/sHQXUQKWhD

— Olúwashínà Okeleji (@oluwashina) November 16, 2025

30 mins to kickoff: We now have access to the DR Congo lineup, and there are three changes from the semifinal win to take note of. Coming into the XI is Meschack Elia to play on the wing, while Sunderland left-back Arthur Masuaku enters along the back. In midfield, versatile Lille youngster Ngal Muaku takes over, replacing Charles Pickel.

45 mins to kickoff: It's a party atmosphere already inside the stadium in Morocco, as DR Congo fans get the cheering started!

🇨🇩 DR Congo fans are getting the party started 🎉 pic.twitter.com/xA6yTShoCu

— Jay Harris (@jaydmharris) November 16, 2025

1 hour to kickoff: The Nigeria lineup is out, and while it's similar in nature to the semifinal win over Gabon, there are two notable changes.

Semi Ajayi comes into the back line for Bright Osayi-Samuel, which likely pushes Benjamin Fredrick to right-back. Meanwhile, Frank Onyeka comes in as an extra midfielder, replacing Akor Adams and leaving Victor Osimhen by himself up top.

1 hour 30 mins to kick: Looking ahead to the intercontinental playoffs, for which the eventual winner of this match will qualify, two of the six participants are currently known.

Bolivia are the confirmed participants out of CONMEBOL, having finished seventh in their qualifying standings, while New Caledonia are the participants from Oceania after falling to New Zealand in the final of their qualification tournament.

The winner here will be Africa's sole participant, while two more will be chosen from CONCACAF's competition. The last will be nominated from Asia in their final between UAE and Iraq, which is level at 1-1 after the first leg, set to be decided in the second leg on Tuesday.

2 hours to kickoff: Nigeria's semifinal victory over Gabon brought immediate redemption for Victor Osimhen who suffered a shocking miss right at the end of regulation which would have wrapped up the result right there. Instead, he bagged a brace in extra-time, sending the Super Eagles on their way.

"I apologized immediately to my teammates," Osimhen said of his miss. "I told my teammates that I was sorry and I would correct it in extra time." He sure did, making it five goals in his last two World Cup qualifiers.

"If I let it get into my head, I don't think I would be able to grab those two goals," Osimhen added. That's a strong mentality to have, and probably the reason he's excelled since joining Galatasaray while scoring eight goals in his last six international matches.

Nigeria vs. DR Congo kick off time

This 2026 World Cup qualifying playoff match kicks off from Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday, November 16 at 8 p.m. Local time in Rabat, Morocco. Here's how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:

Nigeria vs. DR Congo lineups, team news

Eric Chelle was expected to name a similar starting lineup from the semifinal, and he has done so with a few slight alterations.

Wilfred Ndidi has been cleared to play after it was clarified that his yellow card against Gabon, his second of the qualification cycle, will not incur a suspension as bookings do not carry over from the group stage to the playoff round.

Semi Ayaji is available again after serving a suspension of his own, and he returns along the back, partnering with Calvin Bassey and moving Benjamin Fredrick out wide to the right.

Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman were both substituted during normal time of the semifinal, so they should be well rested. Victor Osimhen is a lock to start every game, but this time he will be alongside Ademola Lookman as Frank Onyeka enters in midfield to replace striker Akor Adams.

Nigeria starting lineup (4-5-1): Nwabali (GK) — Fredrick, Ajayi, Bassey, Sanusi —  Chukwueze, Onyeka, Iwobi, Ndidi — Lookman, Osimhen.

Nigeria subs:  Okoye (GK), Obasogie (GK), Troost-Ekong, Awaziem, Osayi-Samuel, Onyemaechi, Onyedika, Simon, Ejuke, Abdullahi, Arokodare, Adams.

The most recognisable names in the DR Congo lineup come along the back line, where former Manchester United defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe are international regulars. Wan-Bissaka debuted for DR Congo last year after completing a one-time switch from England where he was a youth international.

DR Congo is Elche winger Grady Diangana withdrew from the October international break due to injury and remains out of action for club and country.

DR Congo starting lineup (4-4-2): Mpasi-Nzau (GK) — Wan-Bissaka, Mbemba, Tuanzebe, Masuaku — Muaku, Sadiki, Moutoussamy — Elia, Bakambu, Mbuku.

DR Congo subs:  Epolo (GK), Fayulu (GK), Kalulu, Bushiri, Kapuadi, Pickel, Kayembe, Stroeykens, Cipenga, Mayele, Balikwisha, Essende.

Nigeria vs. DR Congo live stream, TV channel

Here is how to watch the match in some of the world's major regions: