Nigeria’s bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup ended in heartbreak after losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo on penalties in the final playoff round, following a 1-1 draw. 

The Nigeria Football Federation’s appeal against Congo’s alleged use of ineligible players was dismissed, leaving the Super Eagles out of the tournament for the second consecutive time after missing Qatar 2022.

The setback also saw Nigeria drop to fourth place in Africa’s latest FIFA rankings, behind Morocco, Senegal, and Egypt, though they retained their 26th position globally.

Speaking at a global press conference in Johannesburg, CAF President Patrice Motsepe declared that the World Cup was “incomplete” without Nigeria and Cameroon. 

He praised Nigeria’s footballing heritage and talent pool, stressing that the country remained one of Africa’s biggest producers of world-class players.

Motsepe recalled his visit to Nigeria, highlighting the unifying power of the Super Eagles brand: “When the national team plays, there’s no

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