{"id":172088,"date":"2025-11-16T21:20:14","date_gmt":"2025-11-16T21:20:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/nigeria-vs-dr-congo-live-updates-extra-time-score-latest-in-world-cup-2026-qualifier-final-the-athletic-the-new-york-times\/"},"modified":"2025-11-16T21:20:14","modified_gmt":"2025-11-16T21:20:14","slug":"nigeria-vs-dr-congo-live-updates-extra-time-score-latest-in-world-cup-2026-qualifier-final-the-athletic-the-new-york-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/nigeria-vs-dr-congo-live-updates-extra-time-score-latest-in-world-cup-2026-qualifier-final-the-athletic-the-new-york-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Nigeria vs DR Congo live updates: Extra time score, latest in World Cup 2026 qualifier final – The Athletic – The New York Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

International Football
2026 World
Cup Countdown
live
Updated 28s ago<\/span>
Nigeria<\/a> are drawing 1-1 with DR Congo in extra time of their World Cup play-off in Rabat.<\/strong>
Frank Onyeka<\/a> got his side off to the perfect start as his deflected effort opened the scoring in the third minute. But DR Congo levelled just after the half-hour mark thanks to Meschak Elia's close-range finish.
The match will head to a penalty shootout if it is still level after extra time.
The winners of this match will progress to the intercontinental play-offs in March.
The players are taking on fluids, getting some words of wisdom from their managers.
Maybe getting a quick massage from the physios.
Maybe chatting about who will take a penalty if they get there, which now seems inevitable.
That's the halfway point in extra time.
105+1' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Nathanael Mbuku, 23, goes down in open play with serious cramp.
Opponent Calvin Bassey sportingly stretches his leg out.
DR Congo have several subs left to use.
Wonder if Sebastien Desabre is waiting to bring his specialist penalty takers on.
104' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
We're already nearly halfway through extra time and there has only been a couple of openings; one chance and one half chance.
Both sides are mostly aiming to keep things solid, not make any mistakes, being simple and careful on the ball \u2014 it's understandable, with so much on the line.
Yet surely a bit more ambition or thrust on and off the ball is their best chance of a winner!
103' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Was that the moment for Nigeria?
A lovely cross from the left from Moses Simon, the nearly two-metre-tall Arokodare is poised to nod it in, but he heads it over.
Should have got that on target.
If he'd have left it, strike partner Akor Adams would have had a free header at the back post!
101' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Nice play down the right from DR Congo, Kayembe inviting Mbuku to run onto a pass and swing a cross in.
Well controlled by Mayele, he turns past Bassey and shoots… but it's slashed over.
Never really troubling Nwabali.
98' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Noah Sadiki traps the ball nicely and plays it through for Fiston Mayele, who cuts back inside, but he was narrowly offside.
Fulham's Calvin Bassey, once again, rolls around on the floor as if he is injured, presumably hoping for a yellow card for his opponent.
He quickly jumps back up to his feet.
97' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Nigeria shuffle their pack again, Zaidu Sanusi coming off for Bruno Onyemaechi of Olympiacos.
That's five subs made so far. Only three made by DR Congo.
95' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Sadiki robs Fredrick and stands up a cross to the back post, overhit but Mbuku keeps it in. Back to Moutoussamy, slung in high and Cipenga tries another audacious overhead kick.
He completely misses the ball and slams into Nwabali, who juggles the ball and drops it. Fiston Mayele takes the loose ball and stabs it in but it's a foul on the Nigeria goalkeeper.
The referee points for the free kick, Mayele thinks he's pointed to the centre circle for a goal and he runs off celebrating with a full knee slide before he realises.
93' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Nigeria have started with energy and intensity.
Probably got a rocket from manager Eric Chelle in the break there.
Here we go then!
The first half of extra time in this CAF 2026 World Cup qualifying play-off final.
Penalties will be on the way if extra time doesn't separate the sides.
Fans of both teams are a little quieter now.
They know what is on the line.
Lose today, and their hopes of being at the World Cup next summer are over.
It's the end of normal time here in Rabat.
Half an hour of extra time is on the way.
90+3' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Three minutes added on at the end of the 90 minutes.
We're in the last of those.
Benjamin Fredrick sees the ball out for what he thinks is a goal kick off Cipenga but in fact it's a corner.
Mbemba is up and fancies another late winner, but Nwabali claims it.
That means…
I think Arokodare has been one of Nigeria's better players since he came on.
Winning headers and proving a nuisance. The problem is absolutely nobody is running off or linking up with him.
Maybe he should have come on before Adams to play with Lookman and Iwobi.
90' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Into the 90th minute here in Rabat!
Cross from the left from Cipenga, right-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka is somehow in the box and he tries an overhead kick.
Misses the ball.
That's why he only has four goals in 281 appearances in all competitions in his career.
DRC's substitutes are whipping up the crowd as they have a corner.
They seem far less tense than Nigeria.<\/p>\n

Nwabali just sent shivers of fear across the whole of Nigeria.
He just took a huge risk in possession and his pass was intercepted in the box.
Luckily he got away with his mistake, saved a shot and then the flag went up for offside.
Nwabali was way too casual in possession then.<\/p>\n

84' Nigeria 1-1 DR Congo<\/strong>
Ooh, Nigeria are lucky there.
Through ball aimed at Cipenga, Fredrick deals with it and passes it back to Nwabali, Cipenga and<\/em> striker Fiston Mayele closing him down.
Again, Nwabali is so lax on the ball, and his pass is cut off by Mayele. Huge chance for DR Congo with two attackers in the box, completely free of defenders.
Cipenga took over and shot from a tight angle as Nwabali closed him down, blocked and cleared.
Mayele wanted that back. If he had ran onto the loose ball, Cipenga had run inside to the penalty spot and Mayele pulled off a simple sideways pass, that was an open goal.<\/p>\n

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