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

[CryptoHeadlineNews]

Already the score line is 1-1. Both sides are really going at it. So far I think the problem the Super Eagles have is the defense. Ndidi has been absolutely awful in this game I hope the manager substitute him in the second half. Alex Iwobi and Lookman have also been poor in this game.

It's 90 minutes already and an extra 3 minutes have just been added, and to be frankly speaking, I'm totally disappointed with the way our Nigerian Super Eagles are playing right now, considering the fact how early our Super Eagles were able to score the first goal of the match at 3 minutes into the game, which obviously gave us high hopes thinking they could actually deliver us today to enable us qualify for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup. And as it stands now, I have doubt the Super Eagles will be able to win the extra time game we will be playing next.

[Wakate]

It's 90 minutes already and an extra 3 minutes have just been added, and to be frankly speaking, I'm totally disappointed with the way our Nigerian Super Eagles are playing right now, considering the fact how early our Super Eagles were able to score the first goal of the match at 3 minutes into the game, which obviously gave us high hopes thinking they could actually deliver us today to enable us qualify for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup. And as it stands now, I have doubt the Super Eagles will be able to win the extra time game we will be playing next.

You don't have to be disappointed about ordinary football that if your country beat Dr Congo, it will be hard for them to go close to the world cup. Corruption in the football league of your country has been responsible for this shame  that brought to you but you don't have to be angered about this because the Nigerian team can not compete much at the international level.

[Silikiem]

In the first half of the game Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze performed below my expectations, so many errors coming from both players and some chances they should have converted to goals was wasted by the two players. Our coach should change both players so that Victor Oshimen will have the chance to score in this game because Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze is not creating enough chance that could see them cross the ball.

I'm also seeing those errors and they are not what is expected of them at this critical match. What is even annoying is that they are not playing so good this second half and the match is entering extra time. That was exactly what happened in the last match, they won at extra time but there is no assurance that it will happen this time with DR Congo. The Congo players are showing so much seriousness that our defense is under serious pressure.

With the way the game is currently going, I don't think Nigeria can survive this game except they hold onto the game and get it to the penalty shoot out because as it stands now the Nigerian team are just hanging on and don't really pose any major threat to the Dr congo team. Nigeria are not playing well enough today because they have played up to their standard and it's really disappointing, after all the show up and excellent performance now they want to wash it down the drain.

Dr Congo looks more confident with the ball, they seem to have more of the possession and their positioning is better than the Nigerian team. The withdrawal of Victor Osimehn right in the second half of the game now gives the Dr Congo defense some breath of relief and they now seem to have the freedom to expand and play their game knowing fully well that the Nigerian danger man is out and now they can attack more. Nigeria is left with no creativity in the midfield after the substitution of Alex Iwobi and they are finding it difficult to penetrate the Congolese defense. If Nigeria can be able to defend well and take the game to penalty kick then they should be lucky.

[Princess Leah]

It's 90 minutes already and an extra 3 minutes have just been added, and to be frankly speaking, I'm totally disappointed with the way our Nigerian Super Eagles are playing right now, considering the fact how early our Super Eagles were able to score the first goal of the match at 3 minutes into the game, which obviously gave us high hopes thinking they could actually deliver us today to enable us qualify for the forthcoming 2026 World Cup. And as it stands now, I have doubt the Super Eagles will be able to win the extra time game we will be playing next.

You've just said my mind dear, they gave me the impression that we'll beat the opponent "woto woto" like our people do say but they're just doing otherwise after scoring an early goal, who scores under three mins and feel relaxed, I'm just wondering if this is how they tend to represent in the world cup if they qualify.

 We'll I'm grateful that they didn't concede another goal before the 90 mins, atleast there's hope. Well I have nothing much to say but hope that we get lucky in this match.

[Btcdeybodi]

In the first half of the game Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze performed below my expectations, so many errors coming from both players and some chances they should have converted to goals was wasted by the two players. Our coach should change both players so that Victor Oshimen will have the chance to score in this game because Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze is not creating enough chance that could see them cross the ball.

Those two players are just waste in this match, playing like people that was drenched before they came for this game. Good that the coach substituted them at same time but i don't know why Victor Osimhen was substituted immediately the second half started and since he wasn't available there was no force again in the forward positions, they were literally playing a very boring game. They are now in the extra time and the score is still 1:1, if it enters penalty shootouts i don't think Nigeria can scale through.

[Iamgoat]

Moving forward, Ademola Lookman has been the culprit in today's game. I am still in shock at how the African player of the year has been so poor throughout the World Cup qualifier.

Another observation made here is that the Super Eagle cannot match the physicality of DR Congo. So far, they have won the fewest aerial duels, 1v1, except for Benjamin Federeick, who has always been solid in the defense since he joined the team.

Does it mean today's game will end in penalty shootout because with the pace at which these guys are taking it hard on each other shows how hungry both the Nigeria club and DR Congo. The game is at the second extra time of the extra time and the game is still in draw just shows you the way both teams are so hungry to qualify. Any slight mistakes from any of the club at this critical time can be detrimental to them because it will mean the opponent winning with a goal difference. A possibility of penalty is on the high side but I don't want it to get there because anxiety and the pressure on our guys can even make them lose their chances. I hope Osimhen will perform his magic these few minutes left else a penalty might not just be the best for us

[B-BossMan]

Already the score line is 1-1. Both sides are really going at it. So far I think the problem the Super Eagles have is the defense. Ndidi has been absolutely awful in this game I hope the manager substitute him in the second half. Alex Iwobi and Lookman have also been poor in this game.

You are correct, the Super Eagles are not putting in any effort the way it was being put in from the early minutes of the match. This poor defensive game is actually very poor, and it seems that the Super Eagles players are confused already. I don't even know what happened to Osimhen in this match, because I wasn't expecting this match to ever end this way, since the Super Eagles had an opportunity to secure an early goal in this match, and I was expecting more goals from them, but they really fumbled in this particular match, although both of them really tried. But I know the Super Eagles are in their best form presently, and this performance is not encouraging. Well, the match is at extra time now.

Super Eagle – 1 DR Congo-1

[Rruchi man]

 We'll I'm grateful that they didn't concede another goal before the 90 mins, atleast there's hope. Well I have nothing much to say but hope that we get lucky in this match.

Are you not tired of relying on luck? Luck will get us nowhere in the World Cup with how poorly we play. The entire game crumbled after the first half and the substitutions that our coach made. It seems this team cannot do without Osimhen inspiring them on the field.

DR Congo has been the better team and actually deserves the World Cup spot better than we do, they have been more direct, more physical and with more ideas.

If this Nigerian team qualify for the World Cup in this their poor form, it will just be an avenue for NFF to embezzle more funds.

[IceLincoln]

Without Osimhen the attack look weaker, well I still believe in the Super Eagles but they need more than determination at this point to win this game, currently Dr Congo is doing better and our boys need to sit up.
 
 I wonder why they just relaxed after scoring and early goal, if they had used same energy to mount more pressure on the opponent maybe we would've been waiting for the final whistle by now but we just have to hope that they find the net again, I've never been this tensed while watching a match.

It’s embarrassing to say that without Victor Osimhen the whole squad is thrash. Everyone on that field is actually playing total Rubbish. I think the Coach isn’t as sound as we thought, even if Alex Iwobi was below par he was doing something and removing him to put a striker without replacing him with a good midfielder is also what allowed the Congolese free reins in the field they’re running riots on the Super Eagles.
Tolu Arokodare is just running up and down and can’t trap a ball to save his life, only by a luck will Nigeria Survive.

[Berry2d]

The super eagles are indeed drama kings a team filled with quality players but finds it difficult winning games on a balanced ground. Before the game all believed it wont take the super eagles up to 20 minutes before  proving there supremacy over DR congo but now they have ended up given us the highest surprise anyone would ever think of by maintaining a 1: 1 score till the end of the game. The mystery behind the super eagles team underperformance is what i cant tell especially that of ademola lookman who was recognised as the teams saviour that later turn to weakness.

[nelson4lov]

Omo, we're heading into penalties in few minutes. This is why the super eagles needed to make it to the world cup from the first chance we got. Now we have to go into these brutal mini tournaments just to get a ticket to the world cup. It's shitty because the super eagles over the years have continuously put the fans under pressure. If we're going to singing "all we are saying, give us one goal" in the world cup, I'd rather we end it here in this final.

[Fiatless]

You don't have to be disappointed about ordinary football that if your country beat Dr Congo, it will be hard for them to go close to the world cup. Corruption in the football league of your country has been responsible for this shame  that brought to you but you don't have to be angered about this because the Nigerian team can not compete much at the international level.

Without Victor Osimhen, there is no Nigeria. The attack is blunt and the midfield has been disorganised. Nigeria is basically fighting for survival in this game. The Super Eagles were just hoping that the extra time will end so that they can play the penalty. This performance is far below what we saw against Gabon. I really underestimated the Congo DR. It's now a game of luck, penalty.

[Sammye3]

Does it mean today's game will end in penalty shootout because with the pace at which these guys are taking it hard on each other shows how hungry both the Nigeria club and DR Congo. The game is at the second extra time of the extra time and the game is still in draw just shows you the way both teams are so hungry to qualify. Any slight mistakes from any of the club at this critical time can be detrimental to them because it will mean the opponent winning with a goal difference. A possibility of penalty is on the high side but I don't want it to get there because anxiety and the pressure on our guys can even make them lose their chances. I hope Osimhen will perform his magic these few minutes left else a penalty might not just be the best for us

It is so sad to see that the Nigeria team cannot do without a single player (Victor Osimhen) as they struggle to keep up the physicality of Dc Congo. This team lacks that passion, precision and determination for qualification because the only player that spikes up that feeling was subbed off.

We need more passionate players like Osimhen on the pitch with a great display of talent amd prowess. The match is up to penalties and it's a 50-50 possibility for a win. So sad it had to get to this.

[Roseline492]

Does it mean today's game will end in penalty shootout because with the pace at which these guys are taking it hard on each other shows how hungry both the Nigeria club and DR Congo. The game is at the second extra time of the extra time and the game is still in draw just shows you the way both teams are so hungry to qualify. Any slight mistakes from any of the club at this critical time can be detrimental to them because it will mean the opponent winning with a goal difference. A possibility of penalty is on the high side but I don't want it to get there because anxiety and the pressure on our guys can even make them lose their chances. I hope Osimhen will perform his magic these few minutes left else a penalty might not just be the best for us

That's what we are seeing, except is going to be what happened to Gabon because they also end in draw but won on this time they're playing with Gabon now, Nwabali has saved the eagles on this free kick if not this was a goal, Gabon has already brought a goalkeeper that's very experience in penalty, Nwabali should should do as before in penalty saving because if super eagles cannot win then it ends here. This is the time for penalty the most panicking moment in the match because nobody knows what will happen and all this Gabon players looks good in penalty

[Coyster]

It's over. Nigeria is not going to the World Cup, we miss back-to-back World Cups. It is such a sad night for the entire country, but to be fair, the better team won. Dr. Congo completely dominated the game from the second half, and all through the extra-time, they deserved to win.

What is next for the Super Eagles? The AFCON next month, i hope we can win it and at least make up a little bit for this heartbreak. But as for the 2026 World Cup, too bad we'll not be watching our dear nation play in it.

[Sticky Bomb]

It's over. Nigeria is not going to the World Cup, we miss back-to-back World Cups. It is such a sad night for the entire country, but to be fair, the better team won. Dr. Congo completely dominated the game from the second half, and all through the extra-time. What is next for the Super Eagles? The AFCON next month. As for the 2026 World Cup, too bad we'll not be watching our dear nation play in it.

I'm very happy their journey ended here because with the kind of display I saw today, they're not going anywhere. Dr Congo came more prepared and determined to advance to the next round. Nigerian players were only playing to fulfill all righteousness and not in anyway with determination to advance. I said it earlier that DR Congo is the better side and I'm happy they advanced to the intercontinental playoffs. Nigeria should go and rest, they shouldn't be allowed to go up there and show such laxity and in the end disgrace us on a bigger scope of play.

Honestly I lost faith in this squad a long time ago, I wish then success in their AFCON journey but I'll maintain that I'm not expecting anything from them.

[B-BossMan]

Omo, we're heading into penalties in few minutes. This is why the super eagles needed to make it to the world cup from the first chance we got. Now we have to go into these brutal mini tournaments just to get a ticket to the world cup. It's shitty because the super eagles over the years have continuously put the fans under pressure. If we're going to singing "all we are saying, give us one goal" in the world cup, I'd rather we end it here in this final.

I know definitely that Nigeria will lose this penalty shootout. The DR Congo have managed to end or secure victory against Nigeria through a penalty shootout. Nigeria loses 3 penalty shootouts away and 3 clean penalty goals, while DR Congo loses 2 penalty shootouts away with 4 clean goals. Honestly, I was very disappointed in Nigeria’s performance in this match particularly, the consistency and efforts being applied, which actually helped them in their previous match to secure victories, but in this match between them and Congo, their performances were actually low. Nevertheless, Nigeria actually played well, but Congo doesn’t want to lose this match. As such, the match ended in favour of Congo, and Nigeria is out of the qualifier.

[letteredhub]

Aside that Nigeria didn't qualify from the playoffs finals with Congo tonight I must say it was such an interesting 9 minutes of a crazy game and what made spiced the entire game was how the players from the two sides were just missing the penalty kicks before Dr Congo eventually had the victory.

Nigeria started losing the game when Victor Osimhen was subbed off going into the second 45 minutes, it gave the Congolese defense a relieve as the pressure in attack from Nigeria reduced and possession of the midfield flipped to the Congolese who began hitting on Nigeria with a dominant composure while Nigeria players were constantly losing the ball to them. It's a shame Nigeria after all the praises showered on them on winning Gabon 4:1, couldn't take care of the Congolese in a match they were with an early lead. Congratulations to Dr Congo.

[Smartvirus]

Already the score line is 1-1. Both sides are really going at it. So far I think the problem the Super Eagles have is the defense. Ndidi has been absolutely awful in this game I hope the manager substitute him in the second half. Alex Iwobi and Lookman have also been poor in this game.

For a game that started so well, you would wonder how it ended so badly for Nigeria. After they had that early goal from a deflected ball right through the goalkeeper, Ndidi found it necessary to return the favour by setting up Elia real good.

How do you take off all your best players at the start of the second half and somehow, hope to qualify from a Dr. Congo that found their momentum towards the end of the first half. Nigeria didn’t have any good performance in the entire second half and extra time, it’s that bad.

[Supreme Donvic]

In the first half of the game Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze performed below my expectations, so many errors coming from both players and some chances they should have converted to goals was wasted by the two players. Our coach should change both players so that Victor Oshimen will have the chance to score in this game because Ademola Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze is not creating enough chance that could see them cross the ball.

I'm also seeing those errors and they are not what is expected of them at this critical match. What is even annoying is that they are not playing so good this second half and the match is entering extra time. That was exactly what happened in the last match, they won at extra time but there is no assurance that it will happen this time with DR Congo. The Congo players are showing so much seriousness that our defense is under serious pressure.

DR Congo took over the game since the beginning of the second half Nigeria team played nothing in the second even when Lookman and Samuel Chukwueze was substituted in the second half nothing seems to be working in the team, the absence of Victor Oshimen in the second half weakned the team,they are just playing like a team without formation they no longer have any target in the game. Nigerian team is lucky that DR Congo is not converting their chances by now they would have scored more than 3 goals.

It is a thing of shame to Nigeria super eagles they where just playing total rubbish in that match, my question is so without victor osimhen there's no super eagles, that bassy of a guy is the problem in that match he caused the first goal and why did he even play that penalty, right now I can't sleep because Nigeria lost this match why are super eagles doing this to us why, most we suffer pain and shame always, Nigeria super eagles didn't not play anything at all in that match they didn't, this Was the same thing they did in the last African cup of nation they were just running about the feed I don't know if they are afraid to play the game it is well, I pray God help me thi sleep this night.