Nigeria and DR Congo face off on Sunday in the final of the CAF World Cup qualifying playoff round.
The Super Eagles defeated Gabon 4-1 after extra time in Thursday's semifinal to book their place in this final and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup next year.
DR Congo stunned Cameroon with a late winning goal in their last match, and given they have won three of the six previous meetings with Nigeria dating back to 1966, they may fancy their chances to producing another surprise.
The winner of this game will progress to the inter-confederation playoffs next March, at which nations from different qualifying regions will have the chance to compete for two spots in the World Cup group stage.
Eric Chelle's Nigeria have won five of their past six games and scored eight goals across their most recent two fixtures, so they come into this final as heavy favourites against a team ranked 19 places below them. However, with so much at stake in Rabat, this is likely to be a closely fought encounter.
MORE: Updated list of teams qualified for 2026 FIFA World Cup
Nigeria lineup vs. DR Congo: Projected starting XI, team news
Chelle is expected to name the same starting lineup from the semifinal, unless there are players struggling with fatigue after that game went to extra time.
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, but it seems likely that Calvin Bassey and Benjamin Fredrick will continue at the heart of the defence.
Samuel Chukwueze and Ademola Lookman were both substituted during normal time of the semifinal, so they should be well rested. Akor Adams and Victor Osimhen will almost certainly start as the front two once more after scoring in the last round.
Nigeria predicted starting XI (4-4-2, right to left): Nwabali (GK) — Osayi-Samuel, Fredrick, Bassey, Sanusi — Chukwueze, Iwobi, Ndidi, Lookman — Adams, Osimhen
Full Nigeria squad
Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali, Amas Obasogie, Maduka Okoye
Defenders: William Ekong, Calvin Bassey, Semi Ajayi, Bruno Onyemaechi, Chidozie Awaziem, Benjamin Fredrick, Zaidu Sanusi
Midfielders: Alex Iwobi, Raphael Onyedika, Frank Onyeka, Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, Wilfred Ndidi
Forwards: Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, Victor Osimhen, Moses Simon, Akor Adams, Tolu Arokodare, Olakunle Olusegun.
MORE: All you need to know about the 2026 World Cup draw
Nigeria vs. DR Congo match details
- Date: Sunday, November 16, 2025
- Kickoff time: 8 p.m. Local / 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT / 12:30 a.m. IST (Nov. 17) / 6 a.m. AEDT (Nov. 17)
- Location: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium (Rabat, Morocco)
- Competition: CAF World Cup Qualifier (playoff final)
- Referee: Jalal Jayed (MOR)