DR Congo defender Noah Sadiki says the injury suffered by Nigerian forward Victor Osimhen played a significant role in his team’s victory during Sunday’s tense FIFA World Cup qualifying playoff final in Morocco.
Osimhen was forced off at halftime and replaced by Akor Adams, as DR Congo went on to edge the Super Eagles 4–3 on penalties after a 1–1 draw across 120 minutes. Frank Onyeka opened the scoring for Nigeria before Mechak Elia leveled for the Leopards.
Speaking after the match, Sadiki — who features for Premier League side Sunderland — admitted that losing Osimhen shifted the balance of the contest.
“It helped us when he went off. Osimhen is a top player,” Sadiki said. “Nigeria still has quality up front, but he’s their star. Without him, things became a bit easier for us, and we had worked hard on penalties.”
DR Congo’s dramatic win secures their place in the intercontinental playoffs slated for March 2026, where they will fight for a spot at the World Cup.
