ate Goalkeeping Heroics and a Captain’s Nerve Send the Leopards to the Final Intercontinental Playoff
In a heart-stopping finale in Morocco, the Democratic Republic of Congo kept their World Cup dream alive, defeating Nigeria in a penalty shootout after a tense 1-1 draw that stretched into extra time on Sunday.
The victory in the African qualifying play-offs was sealed by captain Chancel Mbemba, who coolly converted the decisive penalty. The real hero, however, was substitute goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu, who was brought onto the pitch just one minute before the shootout began and made two crucial saves to send his nation into a frenzy.
The match was a rollercoaster from the start. Nigeria, a team with a storied World Cup history, struck first. Frank Onyeka put the Super Eagles ahead in just the third minute, his powerful shot taking a slight deflection on its way into the net.
DR Congo fought back valiantly and found their equalizer just after the half-hour mark. A quick counter-attack, sparked by stealing the ball from Alex Iwobi, ended with Meschack Elia slotting the ball home to make it 1-1.
As the match wore on, both teams showed visible caution, aware that a single mistake could end their World Cup hopes. Congo looked the more ambitious side, even having a strong claim for a penalty waved away in the second half.
After a grueling 120 minutes failed to break the deadlock, the game moved to penalties. In a dramatic twist, coach Sébastien Desabre introduced goalkeeper Timothy Fayulu specifically for the shootout. The tactical masterstroke paid off, as Fayulu’s two saves paved the way for Mbemba to become the match-winner.
The win means DR Congo now advances to the final inter-confederation play-off draw this Thursday. In March, they will compete against five other teams from around the globe for the last two spots at the 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
For the Congolese, the victory rekindles hopes of a return to the world stage for the first time since 1974, when the nation competed under the name Zaire.
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