Nigeria, Nov. 17 -- In Rabat on Sunday night, Nigeria's long, grinding push toward the 2026 FIFA World Cup dissolved under the weight of tension, errors, and a relentless Congolese side that refused to break. And when the dust settled, Super Eagles goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, one of the few players who stood tall throughout the entire qualifying campaign, stepped forward to shoulder the pain.

Nigeria fell 4-3 to DR Congo on penalties in the CAF playoff final, ending a two-year journey that had been rebuilt on new belief, tactical restructuring, and a last-ditch surge into contention. For the first time in history, the Super Eagles have now missed back-to-back World Cup tournaments.

Moments after the defeat, a visibly shaken Nwabali addr...