Super Eagles Flunk Final Test as World Cup ‘Carryover’ Shatters Nigeria’s 2026 Hopes
This was supposed to be the night Nigeria stamped their ticket to the intercontinental playoff.
Instead, it became the night the team failed its final exam.
And the carryover? A missed World Cup — again.
🧩 A Match That Exposed Everything Wrong with the Super Eagles
From the first whistle, DR Congo looked like the side that understood the magnitude of the moment.
They were sharp, hungry, and coordinated.
Nigeria?
Flat. Predictable. Passive.
Despite the individual talent on paper, the team lacked:
Tactical structure
Midfield identity
Urgency in transitions
A clear pattern of play
Emotional leadership on the pitch
One player, however, refused to sink with the ship.
⭐ Player Ratings: Nigeria vs DR Congo
Below is a detailed breakdown of each player’s performance:
🥇 Stanley Nwabali — 8/10 (Man of the Match)
If not for Nwabali, the scoreline could have been embarrassing.
He produced crucial saves, commanded his box well, and showed elite composure under pressure.
He was the only Super Eagle who came ready for war.
🥈 Calvin Bassey — 6.5/10
Showed fight. Stayed aggressive in duels.
Tried to carry the ball forward when the midfield disappeared.
But had too much to do because the team was constantly stretched.
🥉 Semi Ajayi — 6/10
Solid in patches, shaky in others.
Caught out by the speed of DR Congo’s counters.
Needed more protection from the midfield.
Ola Aina — 5.5/10
Energetic early on but faded.
Was pinned back for most of the match and couldn’t influence the attack.
Bright Osayi-Samuel — 5/10
Struggled defensively, beaten for pace and positioning several times.
Offensively contributed little.
Wilfred Ndidi — 4/10 (Flop of the Match)
A night to forget.
His passing was sloppy, his positioning questionable, and he failed to control midfield tempo.
Lost duels he normally dominates.
When Nigeria needed a leader, he disappeared.
One of his poorest national team performances.
Alex Iwobi — 6/10
Worked hard but lacked end product.
Tried to drop deep to build play because the midfield was dysfunctional.
Needed more support.
Frank Onyeka — 5/10
Ran a lot, achieved little.
Energy without impact.
Failed to break lines or track opposition movement effectively.
Ademola Lookman — 6/10
Tried to create chances out of nothing.
Looked frustrated with the lack of movement around him.
Not his best night but still one of Nigeria’s few bright sparks.
Samuel Chukwueze — 5/10
One-dimensional.
Held onto the ball too long, slowed down transitions, and made poor decisions in the final third.
Victor Osimhen — 5/10
A night of heavy touches and lost duels.
Received little service but also failed to impose himself.
Transformed from a lion to a lone striker with no support.
🪫 The Bench — 5/10
Substitutions came too late, lacked creativity, and didn’t change the game flow.
No impact, no spark, no solution.
❌ Coaching & Tactics — 3/10
This match exposed Nigeria’s biggest weakness:
A team of stars without a system.
Zero midfield balance.
No coordinated press.
No attacking patterns.
No improvisation when trailing.
The players looked confused.
The tactics looked outdated.
The game plan simply did not exist.
💔 A Night of National Disappointment
This wasn’t just a loss — it was a collapse of belief.
A generation of talent wasted by chaos, inconsistency, and tactical emptiness.
Nigeria will watch the 2026 World Cup from home, not because of a lack of players, but a lack of direction.
The Super Eagles failed the test.
Failed the moment.
Failed the fans.
And now, the World Cup dream is gone.
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