Nigeria miss World Cup as play-off hopes fade
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the World Cup have ended after a turbulent qualifying campaign and a penalty loss to DR Congo. The Super Eagles failed to secure a spot despite an ongoing appeal against DR Congo’s qualification. Former players like Odion Ighalo and William Troost-Ekong have blamed poor planning and structural issues for the team’s struggles. The team’s absence from the tournament comes despite Africa’s expanded allocation of nine automatic slots.
Match highlights
- DR Congo defeated the Nigeria national football team 4-3 on penalties in the African play-off final last November in Morocco.
- The Super Eagles played under three different coaches, winning four, drawing five, and losing one of their 10 qualifying matches.
- Under Portuguese coach José Peseiro, the team began with consecutive draws against Zimbabwe and Lesotho in late 2023.
- Finidi George and Eric Chelle also managed the team during the qualifiers, but results were inconsistent.
- Nigeria’s appeal against DR Congo’s qualification is ongoing, but a final decision is unlikely before the World Cup.
