Former Newcastle United star Chancel Mbemba cemented his status as a national hero for the Democratic Republic of Congo, firing his side to a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Nigeria in a crucial World Cup play-off on Sunday.
A Tense Battle in Morocco
The high-stakes encounter in Morocco was a single-leg affair to decide which African nation would progress to the final intercontinental qualifying tournament in March. Nigeria's Super Eagles got off to a dream start when Frank Onyeka gave them an early lead with a deflected shot.
However, the Congolese side showed resilience and found a well-deserved equaliser just after the half-hour mark. Meschack Elia was the scorer, poking the ball home from close range to level the match. The game's dynamic shifted significantly when Nigeria's primary attacking threat, Victor Osimhen, was substituted at half-time, blunting their offensive edge.
Penalty Drama Seals Nigerian Fate
With both teams cautious of making a fatal error in normal time, the match proceeded directly to a penalty shootout. Nigeria's hopes were immediately dented as both Calvin Bassey and Moses Simon missed their opening spot-kicks.
DR Congo had chances to win it earlier, including a miss from Burnley's Axel Tuanzebe, which sent the shootout into a sudden-death scenario. The decisive moment came when Nigerian defender Semi Ajayi saw his penalty saved, handing Congolese captain Mbemba the chance to be the match-winner.
Mbemba's Magical Week
The 37-year-old veteran, who now plays for Lille, made no mistake. Mbemba emphatically blasted his spot-kick into the roof of the net, sparking wild celebrations amongst the Congolese players and staff.
This heroic act capped an incredible week for the defender. Just days earlier, on Thursday, he had marked his 100th cap for his country with a 91st-minute winning goal to knock Cameroon out of the competition in a previous play-off round.
The victory means DR Congo will now compete in a six-team inter-confederation tournament in March, joining the likes of Bolivia and New Caledonia. There, they will face opposition from Asia and Concacaf regions, with the final two spots for next summer's World Cup on the line. Qualification would mark DR Congo's first appearance at a World Cup finals since 1974.
Mbemba, who made 59 appearances for Newcastle United between 2015 and 2018, has enjoyed a successful career in Europe with clubs such as Porto and Marseille before his recent move to Lille.
