Democratic Republic of Congo manager, Sébastien Desabre, has shared his thoughts on his team’s dramatic triumph over the Super Eagles in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup African playoffs,.
The Leopards sealed a memorable win, edging Nigeria 4-3 in a tense penalty shootout after a fiercely contested encounter on Sunday night in Rabat, Morocco. The result means DR Congo will advance to the Intercontinental playoff round scheduled to take place in Mexico in March 2026, where they will battle for a coveted spot at the global tournament.
For DR Congo, the victory brings them a step closer to returning to the FIFA World Cup stage for the first time since their historic debut in 1974. The East-Central African nation is now just one playoff away from securing their long-awaited return to the world football showpiece.
Speaking after the game, Desabre praised the resilience of his players, stressing that the outcome was well-earned despite the difficult circumstances under which they began the match.
“It’s difficult to start a match down 1-0. But the team spirit remained high, and we chose to try and control the game,” Desabre told journalists while addressing the media.
He also commended Nigeria’s performance and acknowledged how narrow the margins were in a match with so much at stake.
“Nigeria also deserves to be congratulated. The match was very close. We could have not qualified, but overall, I think we deserved the victory.”
The Super Eagles’ defeat means Nigeria will miss out on the FIFA World Cup for the second tournament in a row, while DR Congo continues its quest for a historic qualification under Desabre’s leadership.
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