Nigeria’s Super Eagles this Sunday night, November 16, 2025, lost to the Leopards of DR Congo in the CAF playoff final of the 2026 World Cup, thus ending their quest to pick a ticket to the intercontinental play-offs.

Nigeria took an early lead when midfielder Frank Onyeka powered home a loose ball in the third minute during the tense encounter decided at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.

Zaidu Sanusi’s cross had been deflected by a DR Congo defender, and Onyeka lashed the ball into the bottom corner for the opener.

The hard-fighting Congolese were back on terms in the 32nd minute when Alex Iwobi was caught in possession, and Bakambu put the ball on a plate for Meschak Elia, who tapped home from close range.

On the restart, Head Coach Eric Chelle made a number of quick changes, pulling off goal king Victor Osimhen for upcoming Akor Adams, Ademola Lookman for Chidera Ejuke and Samuel Chukwueze for Moses Simon.

The changes seemed to backfire, as Nigeria literally collapsed, handing the initiative to DR Congo, who came close to scoring a number of times.

No other goal came during regulation time, forcing the match into 30 minutes extra time that equally produced no goal.

In the ensuing penalty shootout, DRCongo came out victorious despite Nwabali saving two kicks. The match ended 4-3.

With this victory, DR Congo have advanced to a six-nation intercontinental tournament in Mexico this March, featuring top teams from every football region except Europe.

For Nigeria, it is a second consecutive absence from the Mundial. The 2026 World Cup will see a record 48 nations compete across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

World football governing body, FIFA, has suspended seven Malaysia national team players for 12 months and fined the country’s football association 350,000 Swiss francs ($440,000) over forged documents used in an Asia Cup qualifier.

The disciplinary committee announced the sanctions on Friday after confirming that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) doctored documentation to field ineligible players during Malaysia’s 4-0 victory over Vietnam in June.

FIFA said the action followed a complaint regarding the eligibility of several players who featured in the match.

The affected players include Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces, Rodrigo Julian Holgado, Imanol Javier Machuca, Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal Iraurgui, and Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano.

They were each fined 2,000 Swiss francs and banned from all football-related activities for one year.

Reacting to the ruling, the FAM said it would challenge the decision through legal channels.

“FAM would like to emphasise that the players involved, and FAM itself, have acted in good faith and with full transparency throughout this process,” the association stated in Kuala Lumpur.

It added that FIFA had previously reviewed and confirmed the eligibility of the players in question.

“In fact, FIFA has previously reviewed the qualifications of the players and provided official confirmation that they are eligible to play for Malaysia,” the FAM maintained.

Malaysia currently sit top of their 2027 Asia Cup qualifying group with six points from two matches, pending further action from FIFA.

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State has urged young athletes especially football players to imbibe discipline as a watchword in their career progression.

Mbah said this at the Novelty Match in Honour of Legend of Football in Nigeria, Christian Chukwu,74, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu between Ex-Rangers International and Enugu All Star.

The match, which featured former Nigeria ex-International Football Professionals and popularly local players, ended in a goalless draw after 90 minutes of play.

Represented by the Commissioner for Labour and Employment, Dr Felix Nnamani, the governor said discipline within and outside the field of play marked a clear difference between the generation of footballers today and the Chukwu’s era.

According to him, it is a very wonderful match to celebrate a legend that has contributed a lot to football in the state, country, continent and the world.

He said, “The life and times of Christian Chukwu resonate with us.

“Christian Chukwu is a gentleman, hard working and disciplined individual as well as a great football, Rangers International FC, Enugu State, Nigeria and African football ambassador and legend.

“Christain Chukwu and his generation did their best to ensure the progress of football, an achievement which the younger generations of football players are enjoying today.

“Enugu State Government through His Excellency, Dr Peter Mbah, has done much and will do more to ensure that this great man (Chukwu) is immortalised and he continues to live in our hearts.”

Mbah said that the large number of ex-football internationals, retired players, his teammates and football lovers present at the stadium shows the love and followership he commands.

“This is fallout and testament to the disciplined, committed and excellent leadership qualities which Christain Chukwu possesses,” he said.

Speaking, his Green Eagles teammate, Dominic Nwobodo, popularly known as Alhaji, said that Chukwu was a good captain, who loved all and carried every player along “with a sense of brotherhood”.

Nwobodo said that Chukwu gave his all to ensure that football not only made Nigerians happy but also ensured it grew as he served in the field (as a player) and the bench (as a coach of the national team and Rangers International FC).

Contributing, Chief Victor Atuonwu, former Chief Liaison Officer between Rangers International and Enugu State Government, said that Chukwu had taught the younger generations of football players that “being patriotic and serving the nation is worthwhile”.

“The novelty match is a worthy honour to a deserving gentleman player, Christian Chukwu, who contributed much to the uplift of football worldwide,” Atuonwu said.

Highlight of the match was a minute of silence observed for Chukwu and prayers for the repose of his soul.

As a player, Chukwu captained the Nigerian National Team, then known as the Green Eagles, between 1974 and 1980.

He was in the Nigerian squads that won the Africa Nations’ Cup in 1980 and finished runners-up in 1976 and 1978.

He was the first Nigerian captain to lift the African Nations Cup trophy after a 3–0 victory over Algeria in the final of the 1980 tournament.

In October 1998 he was appointed coach of the Kenya National Team. Later, from 2003 to 2005, he coached Nigeria, leading them to reach the semifinals at the 2004 African Cup of Nations.

Chukwu coached the Enugu Rangers to sixth place in the 2008–2009 edition of the Nigeria Premier League.

He was made the Rangers’ General Manager and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) later by former Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi.

Chukwu, popularly known as Chairman, died on April 12, 2025, at the age of 74.