World Cup
Two Football Nations, One Shared Pain: Like Nigeria, Italy again at the brink of successive miss-out in World Cup
Just like Nigeria, whose World Cup journey ended painfully in Rabat on Sunday night, four-time world champions Italy are once again standing on the edge of a disastrous back-to-back World Cup miss-out.
On Sunday in Bergamo, Italy fell 4–1 at home to resurgent Norway in their final World Cup qualifying match — a defeat that forced the Azzurri into the playoffs for the third successive edition, and revived painful memories of their failed attempts to reach the 2018 and 2022 tournaments.
For Nigeria, whose own heartbreak came only hours earlier, the Italian collapse felt eerily familiar: dominance without efficiency, hopes raised and dashed, and another detour into the dangerous uncertainty of playoffs.
Norway, who had not reached the World Cup since 1998, sealed qualification in style with a perfect record of eight wins. The emphatic 4–1 victory over Italy ensured they finished six points clear at the top of the group.
Italy came into the match needing nothing short of a miracle — a nine-goal win to overturn Norway’s superior goal difference.
They started with urgency and even took an early lead in the 11th minute through Francesco Pio Esposito. The hosts dominated the first half and threatened repeatedly, while Norway looked subdued and only produced a half-chance from Antonio Nusa.
But the second half belonged entirely to the visitors. Nusa levelled in the 63rd minute before Erling Haaland, left unmarked in a moment of shocking defensive lapse, fired home in the 78th minute and struck again one minute later to take his tally to 16 goals in the campaign.
Jorgen Strand Larsen added a fourth in stoppage time, completing a memorable night for the Norwegians — and a brutal one for the Italians.
Hours after Nigeria’s penalty shootout exit to DR Congo, Italy’s own nightmare unfolded. Before kickoff, Italians already knew their fate: the playoffs were inevitable unless they produced a historic scoreline.
It was a scenario they had seen too many times.
- In 2018, they finished behind Spain and lost their playoff to Sweden.
- In 2022, they finished behind Switzerland and were stunned by North Macedonia in the playoffs.
- Now, in 2026, they must survive yet another playoff to avoid a humiliating third straight absence from world football’s biggest stage.
Coach Gennaro Gattuso admitted the 4–1 scoreline was “heavy” and painful for the fans.
“We’ll find a solution. We want to reach the semi-finals, push through to the final, and earn our place at the World Cup,” he told Rai Sport.
“The first half was very good, but the second half was nowhere near the standard we set.”
Italy’s wastefulness in front of goal — a problem that has plagued them across multiple cycles — resurfaced again, mirroring the finishing troubles that haunted Nigeria during the qualifiers.
While Italy and Nigeria grappled with disappointment, Norway erupted in celebration. After nearly three decades of dashed hopes, setbacks and near-misses, their return to the World Cup felt like a national rebirth.
Captain Martin Ødegaard, despite being injured, described the feeling as “unreal.”
“We have stood in so much rubbish, so many setbacks. To be here in this moment means everything,” he told Norwegian TV2.
“We always believed, and now we are getting the reward.”
Two Football Nations, One Shared Pain
For Nigeria and Italy — nations with strong football traditions and passionate supporters — Sunday delivered a bitter parallel. Both entered the night with high expectations, both fell short, and both now watch the World Cup picture take shape without the comfort of security.
For Italy, the playoffs offer one final lifeline. For Nigeria, the road has reached its end. Yet on a night when global qualifying drama unfolded, the heartbreaks of Abuja and Rome felt painfully alike.
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Nigeria’s head coach, Eric Sékou Chelle, has stirred controversy after alleging that DR Congoused voodoo, locally known as juju, during Sunday night’s World Cup play-off penalty shootout that ended the Super Eagles’ qualification hopes.
The claim surfaced in a viral ESPN video, which captured a heated confrontation on the touchline between Chelle and members of the DR Congo bench during the dramatic shootout in Rabat.
Chelle, visibly upset in the footage, was seen struggling with a Congolese official whom he accused of attempting to influence the penalty shootout through mystical means.
Speaking after the match, the Super Eagles coach said:
“A guy from Congo did some voodoo. He was holding something in a plastic bottle. I don’t know if it was water or something else.”
Chelle explained that the official repeatedly waved the bottle each time a Nigerian player stepped up to take a penalty, which left him feeling uneasy.
“I saw him waving the content every time, and I was a little nervous after him,” he added.
The incident has further fueled tensions following Nigeria’s 4–3 penalty shootout defeat, which marked the second consecutive World Cup the Super Eagles will miss.
DR Congo officials have not publicly responded to the allegation, but the clip has intensified debate among fans and analysts, with many calling for CAF to review the footage and investigate the matter.
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Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup came to a heartbreaking end on Sunday night in Rabat, where the Super Eagles fell 4–3 to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a tense penalty shootout.
The match had ended 1–1 after 120 minutes before the Congolese clinched victory from the spot.
The Super Eagles made a perfect start, taking the lead in the third minute through Frank Onyeka. Nigeria pushed aggressively for a second goal, carving out several opportunities but failing to convert their dominance into a comfortable advantage.
Their missed chances proved costly. In the 33rd minute, Meshak Elia punished the Super Eagles with a precise equaliser, shifting momentum firmly in DR Congo’s favour.
From then on, the Congolese dictated the rhythm, forcing Nigeria into long spells of defensive play, especially during extra time.
Nigeria’s attacking threat diminished even further early in the second half when Victor Osimhen was substituted, leaving the team struggling to regain their forward cohesion.
With the deadlock unresolved after extra time, the decisive moment came from the penalty spot, where DR Congo held their nerve to secure a 4–3 win.
The result means Nigeria will miss a second consecutive FIFA World Cup, having also failed to qualify for Qatar 2022. DR Congo now advance to the intercontinental play-off scheduled for March next year, keeping their World Cup ambitions alive.
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Fans will enjoy free access to the Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat on Sunday when Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo face off in the final of the CAF World Cup play-offs for a ticket to the FIFA World Cup 2026 intercontinental qualifiers.
To book your free tickets for the match between Nigeria and DR Congo, CLICK HERE.
FIFA has made match entry completely free, with supporters able to book their seats via the official ticket link. Kick-off is at 20:00 local time (19:00 GMT).
The Super Eagles arrive buoyed by their dramatic 4-1 extra-time victory over Gabon in Thursday’s semi-final, a win that restored confidence and sharpened belief ahead of the decisive showdown.
DR Congo sealed their place with a tense 1-0 triumph over Cameroon, secured deep into stoppage time by captain Chancel Mbemba.
Sunday’s duel is expected to be both tactical and fierce. Nigeria will look to unleash their pace and direct attacking play, led by star forward Victor Osimhen. DR Congo are likely to rely on disciplined defending, fast transitions, and the sharp striking instincts of Cédric Bakambu, with Mbemba marshalling the back line.
The stakes could not be higher. The winner in Rabat advances to the intercontinental play-offs scheduled for 23–31 March 2026 in Mexico, where six teams will battle in a knockout format for just two World Cup slots.
For the defeated side, the dream of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup—set to hold in the United States, Mexico and Canada from 11 June to 19 July—will come to an abrupt end.
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