Former Super Eagles player, Victor Ikpeba, has offered insights into the reasons behind Nigeria’s defeat to DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff final on Sunday.
Nigeria forced the match into extra time, but the game concluded in a penalty shootout after a goalless 30-minute extra session.
Ikpeba remarked that the Super Eagles showed up only in the first half, while DR Congo dominated the second half. He attributed this to possible fatigue from their 120-minute match against Gabon three days prior.
“After the 120 minutes the boys played two days ago, they knew they would be in the game if they didn’t concede much in the first forty-five minutes. I think physically, we didn’t turn up,” Ikpeba explained.
He further expressed concerns about the preparedness of the Nigerian team, questioning their readiness to compete effectively against the Congolese after their exhaustive effort against Gabon.
“We shouldn’t forget they gave a lot against Gabon. It is what it is, and I think it’s a setback for this generation of players. So much was expected of these boys, especially looking at the talent of these boys we had,” he stated.
Ikpeba acknowledged the team’s passion and determination shown in the last Nations Cup and emphasized the challenge of competing in African football, stating, “It just shows again, most of all the difficulty in competing in African football. You know that names don’t win football every time.”
He concluded by expressing hope for the team to regroup and strive for success in the upcoming Nations Cup.
