Former Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba was DR Congo’s hero for the second time in a week on Sunday, netting the decisive penalty to crush Nigeria’s hopes of making it to the World Cup.
The two African sides met in a play-off deciding who would progress to a final intercontinental qualifier in March.
And the clash got off to an explosive start when Frank Onyeka gave the Super Eagles an early lead with a deflected shot.
However Congo found themselves an equaliser shortly after the 30-minute mark through Meschack Elia, who poked home an effort from close range.
The rest of the affair was somewhat cagey with the Nigerians losing much of their threat when Victor Osimhen was withdrawn at half-time.
With both sides keen to ensure they didn’t lose the game in normal time, it eventually went to pens.
They now face a final intercontinental qualifying round in March against sides from Asia and the Concacaf
Former Newcastle United defender Chancel Mbemba emphatically scored Congo’s decisive spot-kick
Nigeria’s shootout got off to the worst possible start when both Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon missed their spot-kicks.
Yet a couple of DR Congo misses – one from Burnley’s Axel Tuanzebe – saw the shootout go to sudden death and when Semi Ajayi had his penalty saved, visiting skipper Mbemba was handed a chance to win it.
The 37-year-old veteran sent his spot-kick home emphatically, firing it into the roof of the net to spark pandemonium in the Congolese camp.
It topped off quite the week for Mbemba who, on his 100th Congo cap on Thursday, scored a 91st-minute winner to send Cameroon out in an earlier play-off.
Congo will now join Bolivia and New Caledonia at a six-team inter-confederation tournament which offers the final two spots at next summer’s tournament. They will compete against opposition from either Asia or the Concacaf.
If they secure qualification, it’ll be the Congolese’s first appearance at a World Cup since 1974.
Mbemba made some 59 appearancse for Newcastle between 2015 and 2018 after signing for the club from Anderlecht.
He’s since moved on to Porto, Marseille and now Lille, who he signed for in the summer..view more