Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali has apologised to Nigerians after the team failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup following a dramatic penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo in Rabat on Sunday night.
Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the World Cup for the first time since 2018 ended with a 4–3 loss on penalties after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes. Despite the disappointment, Nwabali was one of Nigeria’s best performers, making several crucial saves, including a strong stop deep into extra time and two saves during the shootout.
However, his heroics were not enough to stop the Leopards from progressing.
Shortly after the match, the Chippa United goalkeeper took to Instagram to express his sadness and appreciation to fans.
“Painful! We all did our best for the badge though our best wasn’t enough. I was once a fan and understand how it feels giving you a disappointing night, we take full responsibility,” he wrote.
Nigeria had made a bright start to the match, with Frank Onyeka scoring in the third minute. But DR Congo grew into the game and equalised through Meshack Elia in the 32nd minute. The Super Eagles struggled for control afterwards, especially after Victor Osimhen failed to return for the second half due to injury.
The Leopards dominated large spells of the match, pressed Nigeria into mistakes, and forced the contest into penalties.
The defeat means Nigeria have now missed back-to-back World Cup tournaments for the first time in their history, having also failed to qualify for Qatar 2022. This is a major setback for a team that entered the playoffs full of confidence after a strong group campaign and a convincing semi-final win over Gabon.
While Nigeria’s journey ends in disappointment, the victory marks a huge moment for DR Congo, who move on to the FIFA intercontinental playoffs in March, where they will compete for a place at the 2026 World Cup – their first appearance since 1974 if they succeed.