LAGOS, Nigeria — Nigeria’s aspirations to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup were dashed in a dramatic penalty shootout loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the African play-offs final on Sunday. The match, held in Rabat, Morocco, ended 1-1 after extra time, with DR Congo securing a 4-3 victory on penalties, advancing to the inter-confederation play-offs in Mexico next March.