World Cup Playoffs: Super Eagles’ crash out of qualifiers, lose 3-4 penalties to DR Congo

Nigeria’s hope of qualifying for the 2016 World Cup intercontinental playoffs was halted Sunday by Leopards of Democratic Republic of Congo who sent them packing in the finals of the CAF playoffs decided at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah, Rabat, Morocco

The Coach Eric Chelle’s led side came into the game with great expectations from Nigerians and were dominant in the beginning of the first half, with Frank Onyeka giving them the lead in the third minutes of the game after a brilliant cross from Zaidu Sanusi.
But the Congolese came back stronger and scored the equalizer after 32 minutes of play through Meshak Elia to end the first half 1-1.

On resumption of the second half, both teams tried to outdo each other but their efforts were not good enough to get the winning goal which resulted in the match ending 1-1 at regulation time to drag the game into extra time.

At the beginning of the extra time, both teams continued their search for the winning goal and what looked like a Congolese winner in the 109 minutes was ruled out as foul by the centre referee.

All efforts by both teams to score the winning goal proved abortive thereby leading to penalty shootout.

In the resultant penalty shootout, Nigeria scored three of her spot kicks with the Congolese scoring four to end the game 4-3 in their favour and qualify them for the intercontinental playoffs.