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Hello and welcome! Thanks for joining us as Nigeria take on DR Congo in the CAF playoff final for a spot in the intercontinental play-offs for the 2026 World Cup.

The stakes are high as the winner of this African playoff will advance to the six-nation intercontinental tournament in Mexico in March, a competition that will feature teams from every football region except Europe.

The loser of Sunday’s match, meanwhile, will exit the race for a World Cup that will see a record 48 nations compete across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Both Nigeria and DR Congo earned this second chance after finishing as the best runners-up in their respective African qualifying groups, giving them one last shot at glory.

In the semi-final, the Super Eagles defeated Gabon 4-1 while the Leopards of DR Congo pip Cameroon by a lone goal.

Matchday in Moulay El Hassan! ️

Nigeria and DR Congo in the African #WCQ Play-Offs Final tonight. Ready? pic.twitter.com/YYZvXX8L8L

The Super Eagles, led by Galatasaray superstar Victor Osimhen, are determined not to repeat the heartbreak of missing out on Qatar 2022 after a playoff loss to Ghana.

Nigeria have never missed consecutive World Cups since their debut in 1994 and are eager to reclaim their spot on football’s biggest stage.

DR Congo, on the other hand, have far fewer appearances to their name. The only time they played at a World Cup was in 1974, back when the nation was known as Zaire, making this clash a historic opportunity for the Central Africans.

Please refresh this page for timely updates about the Nigeria vs DR Congo play-offs semi-final.

Half-Time

HT | Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo

It’s level at the break! The boys have shown plenty of fight in the first half, and it’s all to play for in the second half.

Let’s keep the pressure up!#NGADRC #SoarSuperEagles #FIFAWCQ pic.twitter.com/eEbxx7nzmQ

Freekick To DR Congo

Freekick To Nigeria

44 mins: Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo

Bassey Comes Close To Restoring Nigeria’s Lead

38 mins: Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo

Bassey almost gets something on a corner, but DR Congo manage to scramble the ball clear.

GOAL! DR Congo Equalise

32 mins: Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo

Iwobi is caught in possession, and DR Congo pounce as Bakambu puts the ball on a plate for Meschak Elia, who taps home from close range.

DR Congo Still In It

29 mins: Nigeria 1-0 DR Congo

DR Congo might be trailing, but their fans’ spirits are still quite high. They’re making noise with drums and trumpets, cheering on their men in blue.

Nigeria Waste A Golden Opportunity

24 mins: Nigeria 1-0 DR Congo

Nigeria stride forward, looking dangerous, as Lookman sprints up the left wing.

He squares the ball to the centre of the box, but it’s poor, as neither Osimhen nor Ndidi can send it home.

Nigeria On The Ascendancy

20 mins: Nigeria 1-0 DR Congo

Super Eagles have been the better side, controlling the tempo and dictating play

DR Congo Showing Attacking Intent

16 mins: Nigeria 1-0 DR Congo

First signs of attacking intent from DR Congo, as Elia receives the ball on the right and tries to sprint forward, but takes a tumble after a foul from a Nigerian defender.

Mukau Nearly Restores Parity For DR Congo

12 mins: Nigeria 1-0 DR Congo

Nigerian goalkeeper Nwabali was left in no man’s land as he attempted to parry away the ball following the corner kick, but Mukau but sends it over the crossbar!

Ndidi Tries To Double Nigeria’s Lead

8 min: Nigeria 1-0 DR Congo

Nigeria look to double their lead, but Ndidi puts his effort from just outside the area well wide. Decent opportunity that

GOAL! Onyeka Gives Nigeria The Lead

3 mins: Nigeria 1-0 DR Congo

Frank Onyeka fires Nigeria into the lead after 3 minutes

Zaidu’s cross is deflected by a DR Congo defender, and Onyeka lashes a shot into the bottom corner.

Kickoff

Nigeria 0-0 DR Congo

DR Congo begin hostilities

Anthems All Done

Nigeria 0-0 DR Congo

The anthems of both participating teams have been sung. Players are exchanging handshakes before they pose for quick pre-match photos.

DR Congo Team News

MATCHDAY | Nigeria RD Congo

Stade Prince Héritier Moulay Hassan (Rabat, Maroc)
Coup d’envoi : 20h (heure de Kinshasa)
Finale – Barrage Coupe du Monde 2026 (Zone Afrique)

Le XI de départ des Léopards :
Mpasi (GK) – Mbemba (C) – Tuanzebe – Masuaku –… pic.twitter.com/b1Ktuu8la7

Nigeria Team News

TEAM NEWS ️

Two changes from our win over Gabon.
Iwobi pulls the strings in midfield.
Osimhen leads the line.#SoarSuperEagles #NGADRC #FIFAWCQ2026 pic.twitter.com/jFdJRgUHPj

Nigeria Starting XI:
Nwabali; Fredrick, Sanusi, Ajayi, Bassey; Ndidi (C), Onyeka, Iwobi; Lookman, Chukwueze, Osimhen.

Super Eagles Arrive Moulay Hassan Stadium

6:46 pm: The Super Eagles arrive the match venue

We have arrived…..Team News ⏭️ pic.twitter.com/EVDJ3DV5eG

We Are Going To Give Our All

French coach Sebastien Desabre has transformed the always talented but often erratic Congolese into a combative outfit captained by outstanding centre-back Mbemba from Ligue 1 club Lille.

“We have experienced players. What we are putting in place has not happened overnight. We are going to give our all against Nigeria,” promised Desabre.

Victory Over Gabon Means Nothing

Nigeria are 19 places above DR Congo in the world rankings and favourites to win the clash of the Super Eagles and the Leopards, but Ivory Coast-born coach Eric Chelle is cautious.

“The victory over Gabon means nothing. We now face formidable opponents in DR Congo and, assuming we win, there will be time to celebrate.

“We are trying to create an identity. My players understand what I want and are improving mentally and technically with each international window.

“The key to success over Gabon was passion. It was about working together. We have to rediscover that passion against the Congolese,” added the 48-year-old former Mali coach.

Ndidi Boost For Nigeria

Nigeria has received a major boost with Wilfred Ndidi confirmed available for selection.

The ex-Leicester City midfielder had seemed at risk of suspension after receiving a yellow card in Thursday’s semi-final victory over Gabon—his second in the qualification stage.

However, it was clarified on Saturday that yellow cards accumulated during World Cup qualifiers do not carry over into the play-offs, meaning Ndidi is cleared to feature.

Head To Head

Encounters between these two countries are relatively uncommon, with DR Congo holding the upper hand overall.

Nigeria ‘Wants To Be At The World Cup’

Super Eagles captain William Troost-Ekong shares his thoughts ahead of Nigeria’s crucial FIFA World Cup playoff clash against DR Congo in Rabat on Sunday. pic.twitter.com/Nw3tPqgDoA

William Troost Ekong believes the team is focused on the task ahead: “We’re not trying to prove anything to anyone, we want to prove it to ourselves, and we want to be at the World Cup ourselves.”

Reflecting on the team’s progress, Ekong added, “Every game, the boys are getting more comfortable with that pressure.”

Rory McIlroy was on Sunday crowned the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai champion for a seventh year and four seasons in a row, but the world No.2 lost the $10 million Tour Championship to England’s Matt Fitzpatrick in the first playoff hole when he found the water with his tee shot.

At the Earth course of Jumeirah Golf Estates on Sunday, Fitzpatrick (66) made a birdie on the 72nd hole of regulation play to set the mark at 18-under par.

READ ALSO: McIlroy Completes Career Grand Slam With Emotional Masters Playoff Win

A few minutes later, McIlroy sensationally eagled the same hole after a brilliant second shot to 16 feet.

Four players – England’s Tommy Fleetwood (67) and Laurie Canter (67), Sweden’s Ludvig Aberg (66) and Denmark’s Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen (68) – were tied third at 17-under par total.

McIlroy moved past the legendary Spaniard Seve Ballesteros and is now one closer to Colin Montgomerie’s all-time record of eight Order of Merit titles.

It is Fitzpatrick’s third DP World Tour Championship title (2016 and 2020) and a 10th DP World Tour victory in 195 starts. The win is projected to lift him to No. 24 on the Official World Golf Ranking.

The Super Eagles have DR Congo as the next hurdle  on their way to the 2026 World Cup.

A win over the Leopards in the final of the African play-offs will seal Nigeria’s ticket to the intercontinental play-offs billed for March.

Coach Eric Chelle’s side needed extra-time before dispatching Gabon 4-1 in Thursday’s semi-final in Rabat, Morocco.

The DR Congo, on the flipside, were 1-0 victors over Central African neighbours, Cameroon, thanks to a late Chancel Mbemba’s pin-point strike.

Team form

Nigeria have enjoyed great form coming into the game after a shuttering start to the World Cup qualifiers. They have won four of their last five games, drawing only against South Africa away in September.

DR Congo have also won four matches in their last five games, losing only to Senegal September.  But that form was enough to get a final play-offs berth for Sebastien Desabre’s men.

READ ALSO: Ndidi Eligible To Face DR Congo On Sunday, CAF Confirms

Team News

While there were initial concerns about Wilfred Ndidi’s availability for DR Congo after a yellow card in the Gabon win, the Super Eagles will have the Besiktas man for the crunch tie with the Leopards. He was supposed to be suspended for the accumulation of yellow cards but was cleared aftes the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said the caution in the play-offs won’t count.

Coach Chelle will also be happy to have defender Semi Ajayi back for selection after serving a suspension for accumulation of yellow cards. He missed the Gabon game.

Star striker, Victor Osimhen, who has scored five goals in the last two games for the Super Eagles is expected to continue his fine form for the West Africans on Sunday.

For the DRC, Mbemba, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Axel Tuanzebe are some names the Super Eagles should be wary of on Sunday.

Head to head

Nigeria and DR Congo have met seven times, dating back to the 60s where the Central African nation was known as Zaire. However, the Super Eagles have had the upper hand, winning six and losing one of the games. The defeat to the Leopards came in 2015 during a friendly encounter.

Fixture Details [Nigeria vs DR Congo⌋

Competition: CAF World Cup playoffs final.

Date: November 16, 2025

Time: 8pm (WAT)

Intercontinental Play-offs at Stake

Sunday’s match is a win-takes-it-all game. Whoever wins is guaranteed a ticket to the intercontinental play-offs next March for a chance to get a 10th ticket for Africa at the World Cup.

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Colombia, fueled by a debut goal from Gustavo Puerta, defeated New Zealand 2-1 on Saturday in a friendly clash between World Cup-bound teams in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Puerta, 22, opened the scoring in the third minute and Johan Carbonero sealed the win in the 88th — eight minutes after Benjamin Old had pulled New Zealand level.

Puerta’s early strike, off a precise cross from Jhon Arias, disrupted New Zealand, who struggled to find an immediate response.

They regrouped in the second half and were able to capitalise on lax Colombian defending to grab the equaliser.

Old, who had come on in the 64th minute, received a cross and only needed to tap in to level the score.

READ ALSO: Estevao, Casemiro On Target For Brazil In Senegal Win

New Zealand had threatened moments earlier as Jesse Randall, Storm Roux and Sarpreet Singh combined only for the final shot to sail wide.

“New Zealand had a good strategy and competed very well physically,” Colombia manager Nestor Lorenzo said. “They challenged us several times.”

Colombia pressed quickly for a winner. A long ball from Yerry Mina landed at Carbonero’s feet and he eluded two defenders to score just 10 minutes after entering the game.

Carlos Alcaraz said Saturday that Jannik Sinner is the favourite to retain his ATP Finals title at home after the new world number one set up a blockbuster finale with his Italian rival in the prestigious season-ending tournament.

Alcaraz cruised past Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2, 6-4 in Turin to set up the title match with Sinner all tennis fans wanted to see after a series of thrilling battles between the pair this year.

The Spaniard has had the better of his clashes with Sinner 10-5, and has won four of this season’s five meetings which have all come in the final of top-level tournaments.

Alcaraz triumphed in the finals of the US Open and Roland Garros, the latter after roaring back from two sets down and saving three match points, but lost the Wimbledon final to Sinner.

READ ALSO: Sinner Wins Paris Masters, Reclaims World No. 1 Ranking

And he believes that Sinner, a 7-5, 6-2 winner over Alex de Minaur earlier on Saturday, is favourite to lift the trophy on Sunday in front of his home fans.

“I mean, I’m the number one… and he’s playing the best on indoor court. We’re playing in front of his home crowd, so I would say he’s the favourite,” Alcaraz told reporters.

“Don’t want to believe it, but I would say he’s the favourite for tomorrow.”

Sunday’s final has extra spice due to Alcaraz pipping Sinner to the top spot in the men’s rankings at the end of 2025 and him contesting his 11th final of the season in front of a partisan Italian crowd.

“Well, I expect at least three or four people in the crowd cheering for me,” Alcaraz joked.

“Obviously, the people are going to be cheering for him but I will try to be really, really focused on my game and on the things that I have to do.”

Canada’s Auger-Aliassime is an indoor specialist, having won seven of his eight titles on indoor courts but even he could not handle Alcaraz who took control of the match by breaking serve in game four of the first set with a brilliant hooked volley.

Alcaraz breezed into a one-set lead with another break of serve and then completed his victory without much difficulty and without having to play his most spectacular tennis.

Sinner Awaits

Sinner has yet to drop a service game but will have a much tougher test against Alcaraz after the second seed racked up his 13th straight win over De Minaur.

“Honestly every matchup (with Alcaraz) is different. We saw it in Rome and Paris, even if it’s the same surface (clay), it can change,” said Sinner.

Sinner has won his last 18 sets played in Turin, and the four-time Grand Slam champion is on a 30-match winning streak on indoor hard courts.

The 24-year-old has not dropped a set at the ATP Finals since losing the 2023 final to Novak Djokovic, while De Minaur ends his year in a more upbeat mood than the one he had after losing to Lorenzo Musetti in the group stage.

De Minaur admitted that he had been in a “dark place” after that loss, which almost cost him a place in the last four, before he beat Taylor Fritz to set up Saturday’s clash with Sinner.

“I had a little shift in perspective. Of course, like, sitting here right now, I feel like I should have finished my Turin campaign having won two matches instead of one,” De Minaur told reporters.

De Minaur fought off two break points in the opening game of the semi-final but then failed to convert any of the three he carved out in Sinner’s first service game.

The Australian resisted again when Sinner threatened to break in the seventh and ninth games, but the second seed eventually struck the key blow at 5-5 and snatched the first set.

UEFA have handed Marseille a partial stadium closure punishment over a series of incidents in their 1-0 defeat at home Atalanta in the Champions League, European football’s governing body announced on Saturday.

Home fans at the Stade Velodrome on November 5 had set off flares, thrown projectiles and used lasers.

UEFA fined Marseille 71,000 euros ($82,500) and ordered them to close a part of the south stand for the Champions League match against Newcastle on November 25.

READ ALSO: Real Madrid, Super League Seek Over $4bn In Damages From UEFA