African Football Discussion Thread Current Topic: 👉 AFCON 2025/2026

[sokani]

Big game today for the whole of Africa. I’m proud of the Super Eagles for making it this far, whatever happens today I just want them for give their best and even if they lose I’d be okay knowing that they did everything they could to win. Dr Congo are a strong team, if they were not tough they wouldn’t have made it this far, we cannot underestimate them. However Nigeria has a richer football heritage that is built on a long history of success. This put us at an advantage as football DNA plays a huge factor in high stakes match.

Same here. No matter the outcome of today's match, I'm proud of the boys. They've been giving their best to make sure we secure a ticket, and even if we get beaten by DR Congo, they should keep their heads up high, knowing that they gave their all. But I have a feeling that boys are going to triumph in today's game.

[SatoPrincess]

The National Sports Commission, NSC, and some anonymous corporate bodies have promised to gift the Super Eagles $50,000 for every goal scored in the final games against Congo DR. The Nigerian team got about $120,000 for the four goals that were scored in the semi-finals, that's $30k per goal. Just hoping that this will serve as a motivation for the players to play selflessly and put in more effort.

https://dailypost.ng/2025/11/16/2026-wcq-playoffs-super-eagles-to-get-50000-per-goal-against-congo/

This is a bad culture in my opinion. Offering players ridiculous amount of money for performance is not improving the sport in any way. Isn’t it funny that the same people who are making these offers end up owing the players money. We need to stop this madness of paying players (international stars btw) when we do not have stadiums that are up to standard so we can host matches in different cities in Nigeria. It reeks of mismanagement and foolishness.

[knowngunman]

This is a bad culture in my opinion. Offering players ridiculous amount of money for performance is not improving the sport in any way. Isn’t it funny that the same people who are making these offers end up owing the players money. We need to stop this madness of paying players (international stars btw) when we do not have stadiums that are up to standard so we can host matches in different cities in Nigeria. It reeks of mismanagement and foolishness.

I understand your point but I don't think this is entirely bad. There's something we call "incentives" in every place of work in order to motivate the workers to put extra effort in discharging their duty. We need victory today just like Congo DR need it. If this incentive can help us to get this victory, I will definitely not kick against it. I will definitely be the first to criticise this action if it becomes a regular practice but it is once in a while in a very important matches. Nigeria is not the first country to make offer like this to players, it's a global practice. Moreover, this money is not enough to build stadium. Demanding for stadium should be a separate discussion from appropriate authorities. For now let just cheer up the Eagles.

[SatoPrincess]

This is a bad culture in my opinion. Offering players ridiculous amount of money for performance is not improving the sport in any way. Isn’t it funny that the same people who are making these offers end up owing the players money. We need to stop this madness of paying players (international stars btw) when we do not have stadiums that are up to standard so we can host matches in different cities in Nigeria. It reeks of mismanagement and foolishness.

I understand your point but I don't think this is entirely bad. There's something we call "incentives" in every place of work in order to motivate the workers to put extra effort in discharging their duty. We need victory today just like Congo DR need it. If this incentive can help us to get this victory, I will definitely not kick against it. I will definitely be the first to criticise this action if it becomes a regular practice but it is once in a while in a very important matches. Nigeria is not the first country to make offer like this to players, it's a global practice. Moreover, this money is not enough to build stadium. Demanding for stadium should be a separate discussion from appropriate authorities. For now let just cheer up the Eagles.

Incentive? I think their incentive should be the badge, they should be playing for love of country and honor. Is this really a good and sustainable practice? If we continue this culture of throwing money at every challenge, the next generation of players will be doing it for money and not a sense of patriotism. From your reasoning, the money is not enough to build a stadium so let’s give it to the players. Makes sense.

[Slow death]

Today I decided to take a risk and bet on Nigeria to win. Why do I say I'm taking a risk? Because the Nigerian national team hasn't been able to beat Congo, although they haven't lost to Congo either. This photo shows that:



https://livescores.biz/h2h/dr-congo-vs-nigeria-cf

A lot has changed since the last time these two teams faced each other, so I hope that at least the current Nigeria team can secure a comfortable victory. It's true they've made mistakes in defense, but if they can stay focused on defense today, they can win, and I'll profit from that too. I intend to watch this game.

[igebotz]

The National Sports Commission, NSC, and some anonymous corporate bodies have promised to gift the Super Eagles $50,000 for every goal scored in the final games against Congo DR. The Nigerian team got about $120,000 for the four goals that were scored in the semi-finals, that's $30k per goal. Just hoping that this will serve as a motivation for the players to play selflessly and put in more effort.

This is bad, Simon and Co are not going to release the ball - everyone would be playing for themselves and for the money

We shouldn't monetize everything for them to be able to perform to their full strength - this type of gesture always kill the team spirits. If you want to help the team place the money on the team if they qualify and not if someone scores( nothing for goalkeeper and defenders) in this one.

We do not have a good records against Dr. Congo so don't get your hopes so high- anything can happen.

[Slimzeee]

This is a bad culture in my opinion. Offering players ridiculous amount of money for performance is not improving the sport in any way. Isn’t it funny that the same people who are making these offers end up owing the players money. We need to stop this madness of paying players (international stars btw) when we do not have stadiums that are up to standard so we can host matches in different cities in Nigeria. It reeks of mismanagement and foolishness.

I agree with you on this. I also see it as a way of buying public sympathy, and this is how they’ve been doing it since God knows when.

Considering the backlash the NFF has faced in the past couple of weeks, I expect them to start thinking about how to develop our stadiums to proper standards, because true winning is a process.
If these players collect this money after the qualifiers, then what’s next? Wait another four years without adequate facilities, no proper gym, ice baths inside 2500 naira drums, no standard pitch and then promise them money again for another set of wins?

And I hope it doesn’t turn out to be one of those Governor Amuneke style promise schemes because its not something new to them.

[Cityhunter34]

Today I decided to take a risk and bet on Nigeria to win. Why do I say I'm taking a risk? Because the Nigerian national team hasn't been able to beat Congo, although they haven't lost to Congo either. This photo shows that:



https://livescores.biz/h2h/dr-congo-vs-nigeria-cf

A lot has changed since the last time these two teams faced each other, so I hope that at least the current Nigeria team can secure a comfortable victory. It's true they've made mistakes in defense, but if they can stay focused on defense today, they can win, and I'll profit from that too. I intend to watch this game.

Yes, you are not wrong by calling it a risk bet, because it is a playoff final and even though their head to head has shown a tough one for both countries. But even as that I'm pretty sure that Nigeria would break the dead luck in this game because I don't think Nigeria would get to this stage without playing in the World Cup next year. So they just need to do the needful in this game, at least first half winning can give them more confident to dominate in this game.

Meanwhile, good luck on your bet.

[Fiatless]

This is bad, Simon and Co are not going to release the ball - everyone would be playing for themselves and for the money

We shouldn't monetize everything for them to be able to perform to their full strength - this type of gesture always kill the team spirits. If you want to help the team place the money on the team if they qualify and not if someone scores( nothing for goalkeeper and defenders) in this one.

We do not have a good records against Dr. Congo so don't get your hopes so high- anything can happen.

The reward is not for the goal scorers but for the entire team. The amount realised will be shared among the players after the game. Making the reward for the individual who scored the goal will give rise to selfishness and greed. The government would have learned lessons from the past when they rewarded the player who found the back of the net.

Nigeria and Congo DR have met six times and the Leopards won three times, the Super Eagles two times and one game ended in a draw. Yeah, we don't have a good history against Congo DR.

[Agbamoni]

A tough team? True. But if they had shown this toughness and explored the group stage moment with all the tough quality they have then it would have saved them this troubles of playing in the playoffs and looking forward to advance to the Intercontinental level to compete for the final decider to qualify for the World Cup when they could have being resting by now if they had conquered the group stage as they're doing now.

They were not tough then. Most of the players playing now were not the same players who started the game for the Super Eagles at the beginning of the group stage. So far, the most consistent player is Victor Osimhen. Too bad he missed almost 4 to 5 games for them, if I'm not mistaken. Correct me if I'm wrong. And we all know he is their savior.

[7juju]

The National Sports Commission, NSC, and some anonymous corporate bodies have promised to gift the Super Eagles $50,000 for every goal scored in the final games against Congo DR. The Nigerian team got about $120,000 for the four goals that were scored in the semi-finals, that's $30k per goal. Just hoping that this will serve as a motivation for the players to play selflessly and put in more effort.

https://dailypost.ng/2025/11/16/2026-wcq-playoffs-super-eagles-to-get-50000-per-goal-against-congo/

This is a bad culture in my opinion. Offering players ridiculous amount of money for performance is not improving the sport in any way. Isn’t it funny that the same people who are making these offers end up owing the players money. We need to stop this madness of paying players (international stars btw) when we do not have stadiums that are up to standard so we can host matches in different cities in Nigeria. It reeks of mismanagement and foolishness.

I don't see anything wrong with motivating players with money for them to perform well in a match that's as important as this one. Most of these players you are seeing in the national team are bigger than these money, they see bigger amounts as weekly wages. If this is what will make them perform to their highest level let them go ahead and promise them the money. My only concern is if they will pay them those money at the end of the day. Secondly those promising them those money should make those promises with our country currency. We don't use dollar in our country what we use is the NGN so promises should be made in our currency in order to promote our currency.

[Ronsbit]

The National Sports Commission, NSC, and some anonymous corporate bodies have promised to gift the Super Eagles $50,000 for every goal scored in the final games against Congo DR. The Nigerian team got about $120,000 for the four goals that were scored in the semi-finals, that's $30k per goal. Just hoping that this will serve as a motivation for the players to play selflessly and put in more effort.

https://dailypost.ng/2025/11/16/2026-wcq-playoffs-super-eagles-to-get-50000-per-goal-against-congo/

At first, I am convinced that Nigeria will win this match but this pattern of rewarding players for any goal scored will call for greed while the match is ongoing. It would have been better that the gift is placed on the entire team to win the match irrespective of the goals scored and watch them play cooperatively in winning the match.
We have witnessed matches of this nature in the past with the team winning some and also losing out as well. Te approach to the gift should be a different one to encourage unity amongst the players while the game is live as it would be a big task on them to win so that they would have their bonuses and this would make them play collectively.

[Wakate]

Same here. No matter the outcome of today's match, I'm proud of the boys. They've been giving their best to make sure we secure a ticket, and even if we get beaten by DR Congo, they should keep their heads up high, knowing that they gave their all. But I have a feeling that boys are going to triumph in today's game.

Even though I am not fully optimistic about this next match the Nigerian team will be playing, I am not sure that Congo can defeat the Nigerian team. This is not a guess work because for Nigeria to defeat Gabon and other countries, defeating Congo will not be hard for Nigeria. If defeating Congo is what is going to make Nigeria to qualify, these players are not going to allow this match to slide away without a victory.

[Btcdeybodi]

Big game today for the whole of Africa. I’m proud of the Super Eagles for making it this far, whatever happens today I just want them for give their best and even if they lose I’d be okay knowing that they did everything they could to win. Dr Congo are a strong team, if they were not tough they wouldn’t have made it this far, we cannot underestimate them. However Nigeria has a richer football heritage that is built on a long history of success. This put us at an advantage as football DNA plays a huge factor in high stakes match.

Same here. No matter the outcome of today's match, I'm proud of the boys. They've been giving their best to make sure we secure a ticket, and even if we get beaten by DR Congo, they should keep their heads up high, knowing that they gave their all. But I have a feeling that boys are going to triumph in today's game.

Be positive about the match going in favor of the Super Eagles because it will sure be painful if they miss out of the world cup after all the efforts they made, it would have been better if they didn't reach this stage at all than for them to loose guard to DR Congo. Though they are playing a very stubborn side and i know it will be a very tensed match but it's time for the boys to make us proud again. We don't need any consolation in this game, let the Super Eagles go and be victorious, we all in for them now and the only thing that can make Nigerians become so happy is if we qualify for the world cup.

[ajanwalker]

Today I decided to take a risk and bet on Nigeria to win. Why do I say I'm taking a risk? Because the Nigerian national team hasn't been able to beat Congo, although they haven't lost to Congo either. This photo shows that:



https://livescores.biz/h2h/dr-congo-vs-nigeria-cf

A lot has changed since the last time these two teams faced each other, so I hope that at least the current Nigeria team can secure a comfortable victory. It's true they've made mistakes in defense, but if they can stay focused on defense today, they can win, and I'll profit from that too. I intend to watch this game.

Nigeria's chances of winning are risky, but the Democratic Republic of the Congo is not an easy opponent. I don't think the tie will be broken in the 90th minute.

I'm also considering betting on over 2.5 goals, but considering previous matches between Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it doesn't seem like a sensible option.
I'm considering placing a live bet based on the game's progress during the match. Nigeria is my favorite.

[rdluffy]

Today I decided to take a risk and bet on Nigeria to win. Why do I say I'm taking a risk? Because the Nigerian national team hasn't been able to beat Congo, although they haven't lost to Congo either. This photo shows that:
...

Although Nigeria has more tradition, looking at recent games, Congo seems to be in better form.
I don't know whether to root for Nigeria to qualify for another World Cup or for Congo to go to its first World Cup under the name Congo, having already participated in 1974 but when it was still Zaire

May the best team win, hehehe 

I'll try to watch it on Winna. I think it could be a great game. I'll only bet live since I don't have a favorite yet

[DanWalker]

Even though I am not fully optimistic about this next match the Nigerian team will be playing, I am not sure that Congo can defeat the Nigerian team. This is not a guess work because for Nigeria to defeat Gabon and other countries, defeating Congo will not be hard for Nigeria. If defeating Congo is what is going to make Nigeria to qualify, these players are not going to allow this match to slide away without a victory.

I do not think it will be a big challenge for Nigeria to beat  Congo. We have seen Nigeria's performance in the past matches. The team is not weak. We also saw nigeria win by a big margin in the last  match against Gabon. Nigeria secured a 4- 1 victory in this match.

Congo qualified for the  final by winning the semi- final against Cameroon. The  victory against Cameroon is certainly commendable. Anyway, it will be more difficult to win against Nigeria. I am fully  optimistic about nigeria's victory.

[Wakate]

Although Nigeria has more tradition, looking at recent games, Congo seems to be in better form.
I don't know whether to root for Nigeria to qualify for another World Cup or for Congo to go to its first World Cup under the name Congo, having already participated in 1974 but when it was still Zaire

May the best team win, hehehe 

I'll try to watch it on Winna. I think it could be a great game. I'll only bet live since I don't have a favorite yet

So who is the best team young think will match today's match? Dr Congo or Republic of Nigeria?
I don't know what will be the outcome of this match but I hope to see the two teams struggling to win even though they'll going to play draw for the first and second half like the way the Nigerian team did to win Gabon in their previous match.

[Cossyblack]

The National Sports Commission, NSC, and some anonymous corporate bodies have promised to gift the Super Eagles $50,000 for every goal scored in the final games against Congo DR. The Nigerian team got about $120,000 for the four goals that were scored in the semi-finals, that's $30k per goal. Just hoping that this will serve as a motivation for the players to play selflessly and put in more effort.

https://dailypost.ng/2025/11/16/2026-wcq-playoffs-super-eagles-to-get-50000-per-goal-against-congo/

This is a bad culture in my opinion. Offering players ridiculous amount of money for performance is not improving the sport in any way. Isn’t it funny that the same people who are making these offers end up owing the players money. We need to stop this madness of paying players (international stars btw) when we do not have stadiums that are up to standard so we can host matches in different cities in Nigeria. It reeks of mismanagement and foolishness.

I don't see any thing wrong with that. Those incentives was promise to motivate the players to do more. These super players needs motivations to bring out the best in them and nothing motivate players more than when their are promise huge cash incentives. It is not as if these players are getting spoiled or bribe to play at full capacity rather this is just how they should be treated as representatives of Nigeria.

[Rockson1]

So who is the best team young think will match today's match? Dr Congo or Republic of Nigeria?
I don't know what will be the outcome of this match but I hope to see the two teams struggling to win even though they'll going to play draw for the first and second half like the way the Nigerian team did to win Gabon in their previous match.

There is no way people will not say Nigeria is the favourite in that match and if you look at it closely, you'll will see that it is just the truth but no team should be underrated that is what I know, Nigeria should have by now prepare very well for this match and that goes to DR Congo, both teams understands what will happen if any of them lose, they won't give up for each other easily but a winner have to emerge at all cost, well, just as you highlighted, I dont even think anyone knows what will be the result of that match after all football has never changed and it will not  change today but am expecting the best team to win.