2026 FIFA WCQ: Boost for Nigeria as Ndidi is cleared to face Congo in crucial duel for CAF ticket
Nigeria has been handed a major boost ahead of Sunday’s FIFA World Cup Africa play-off final as CAF confirmed that vice-captain Wilfred Ndidi is eligible to face DR Congo.
The continental body clarified that yellow cards accumulated during the qualifiers do not carry over into the play-off stage, meaning only confirmed suspensions apply.
Ndidi received an early booking in Thursday’s 4–1 extra-time win over Gabon in Rabat, his second of the qualifying/playoff series, leading to initial communication that the midfielder would be suspended for the decisive match.
Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle had earlier said Nigeria would “manage the situation” after believing the influential midfielder had been ruled out.
Speaking to NFF Media before CAF’s clarification, Chelle praised the midfielder’s importance to the team.
“Ndidi is an important player for us. His experience, ability, and leadership on the pitch are important for this team. But we will manage the situation. We have a large squad of players and we will make changes,” he said.
“Ndidi is still here with us and will support the team mentally and with his presence.”
Ndidi captained Nigeria in the semi-final, delivering a disciplined display that included the precise assist for Chidera Ejuke’s goal.
Nigeria will also welcome back defender Semi Ajayi, who is available after serving a suspension and is expected to return to central defence.
Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo will go to battle on Sunday night for the lone ticket from Africa to the six-team 2026 FIFA World Cup Intercontinental Playoff Finals in March, from where two teams will bag tickets to next year’s FIFA World Cup finals.
The potentially explosive encounter inside the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay El Hassan will see the Leopards, who last attended football’s biggest house party in 1974, try to halt the strong march of the Super Eagles to a seventh finals since 1994.
While there were robust back-and-forths between the Eagles and the Panthers in Thursday’s semi-final, as well as eye-catching ding-dongs in regulation time, Nigeria eased into gear five in extra time and completely left their opponents for dead as they stormed to a 4-1 win.
Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions created more chances in the second semi-final but frittered them away, leaving Chancel Mbemba to give them a sucker punch in added time, with his powerful header from Brian Cipenga’s corner that sent the Leopards to Sunday’s Final.
The Leopards, champions of Africa in 1968 and 1974, crashed out at the group stage in Germany in 1974, losing all three matches, including a better-forgotten 9-0 thumping by then Yugoslavia in Gelsenkirchen, where they were also beaten 3-0 by Brazil. They also lost 0-2 to Scotland in Dortmund.
Nigeria has reached the Round of 16 at the FIFA World Cup in three of its six appearances, and famously topped a group including Argentina in its debut 31 years ago. They are also three-time champions of Africa.
The Leopards are managed by 49-year-old Sébastien Desabre, a French national, who has ample North African ground and environmental experience, having had stints with Wydad Athletic Club of Casablanca (Morocco), and also with the trio of Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Ismaily FC, and Pyramids FC in Egypt.
He comes up against Franco-Malian Éric Sékou Chelle, Nigeria’s 48-year-old manager, who remains unbeaten in five competitive matches for the Super Eagles in this race, and has told his players to buckle up and get the job done on Sunday, and leave themselves with only one match to play at the Intercontinental Playoffs to make it to the big rumble in the USA, Canada and Mexico next year.
Chelle’s record with Nigeria is four wins and a draw, with 14 goals pumped into the opponents’ net and four conceded, and most Nigerians agree that were he the one who managed the qualifying campaign from the beginning, the Eagles would have nicked an automatic ticket and would not need to come to the playoffs.
Victor Osimhen, easily one of the best forwards in the world, underscored his deadliness with a brace against the Panthers and is said to be determined to overhaul Rashidi Yekini’s 37-goal record for Nigeria with a few more matches. He is currently at 31, with 12 assists as well, in 45 games.
Ademola Lookman, 86-cap, Simon Moses, 90-cap, Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze, Akor Adams, Chidera Ejuke, and Tolu Arokodare are options available for Chelle upfront.
Chelle and his army must beware of the predator named Chancel Mbemba (also captain of the team), as well as Cipenga, Noah Sadiki, and Silas Katompa. The Leopards boast a close-knit rearguard, and there are also Cédric Bakambu, Meshack Elia, Samuel Essende, and the dangerous Pyramids FC of Egypt forward Fiston Mayele.
Already qualified for the Intercontinental Playoffs, scheduled for the Mexican cities of Guadalajara and Monterrey in March, are Bolivia and New Caledonia, with Iraq, Jamaica, and Panama also well-placed to make it.
However, Nigeria and Panama are the highest-ranked of the six, and will each be seeded to play only one match (the two Final matches), after the other four have battled out semi-final matches.
