2026 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS - CAF - PRELIMINARY STAGE - DR Congo is still in the game

DR Congo beats Nigeria 4:3 on penalties following a 1:1 draw after extra time in the African play-off final.

Sunday 16th November

Play-offs / Final

DR Congo vs Nigeria 4:3 

Thursday 13th November

Play-offs / Semi-finals

Nigeria vs Gabon 4:1 (after extra time)

Cameroon vs Congo DR 0:1

FACTS

Congo DR can still dream of a return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974, when the country was called Zaire.

Nigeria, meanwhile, will be missing from a second successive edition of the World Cup.

DR Congo held their nerve in a compelling shootout to join Bolivia and New Caledonia at the six-team inter-confederation tournament, which will provide the final two qualifiers for next year's World Cup.

The winner of the second leg of the Asian play-off between Iraq and the United Arab Emirates and the best two third-ranked finishers from the third round of Concacaf qualifying will complete the field.

Based on their world ranking of 60th, the Leopards could face two more games in their quest to reach the finals - and they will discover their fate when the draw is made on Thursday.