The Super Eagles of Nigeria will on Sunday contend with the Leopards of DR Congo in Morocco's capital to qualify for the 2026 World Cup scheduled to take place in March. Star forward Victor Osimhen scored twice in extra time to clinch a 4-1 semifinal victory for Nigeria over Gabon. Captain Chancel Mbemba was the Congolese hero in the second semifinal, scoring in the first minute of added time to beat eight-time World Cup qualifiers Cameroon 1-0 in torrential rain in Rabat.
Bolivia and New Caledonia have already secured slots in the playoffs; Iraq or the United Arab Emirates will represent Asia; and there will be two qualifiers from the Central America/Caribbean region. Europe is excluded.
After the semifinals among the four lowest-ranked teams, the winners of the two finals will secure places at the World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Nigeria is seeking a seventh appearance at the global showpiece and DRC a second, having played in the 1974 tournament when the central African country was called Zaire.
But the 2023 African Player of the Year atoned on 102 minutes, firing across Mbaba into the far corner after being set up by Benjamin Fredrick. He struck again on 110 minutes, controlling a long pass before once again beating the goalkeeper with a shot into the far corner.
Moreover, Cameroon holds the African record for the most World Cup appearances, with eight overall, but will be missing from the expanded 48-team tournament next year.
They lost the automatic ticket during the playoffs to Cape Verde, who will be making their first appearance at the Mundial.
