Nigeria’s Fall, DR Congo’s Rise: A Shift in African Football Power

And Then There Was One - Sébastien Desabre!

Out of more than 54 coaches who led national teams in the CAF 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers over the last two years, Desabre stood head and shoulders above the rest in the second-most crucial category: the CAF play-offs.

Desabre - Africa’s Last Hope

The Frenchman became the only coach who will guide an African nation - the Democratic Republic of Congo - at the FIFA inter-confederation World Cup play-offs in Mexico next March, against five other nations: Bolivia, New Caledonia, the United Arab Emirates or Iraq, and two CONCACAF representatives - for the two spots in the finals in North America.

Sure, Desabre’s and the Leopards’ second bite at the cherry remains inferior to the other nine nations - including Bafana Bafana - that have sealed automatic qualification for the global showpiece, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Still, it deserves to be celebrated across the continent and beyond. It’s well documented that the Leopards were not favourites to become CAF’s representatives at the inter-confederation play-off in March. Not in a semi-final draw that included teams such as Cameroon, Nigeria, and Gabon. No!

DR Congo’s Underdog Spirit

But Desabre’s men proved that, in order to be the continent’s last hope of guaranteeing 10 African representatives in North America, they must first beat their peers in Africa before taking the fight to the world.

And boy, they did just that. The Leopards beat five-time World Cup participants, the Indomitable Lions, 1–0 in the semi-final, en route to their final clash against Nigeria, who have also qualified for the global showpiece on five occasions.

Their players showed that they have clutch moments in their arsenal, as they came from behind to finish the match - after extra time - 1–1, before holding their nerve in the penalty shootout to win 4–3 and keep alive their chances of qualifying for the global showpiece for the first time since 1974 (though not as “DRC”).

Nigeria’s Collapse and Chelle’s Controversial Claims

Desabre didn’t only ensure that they added more misery to the Super Eagles - who have now failed to qualify for back-to-back World Cups for the first time in some time - but also showed resilience in their approach from start to finish, leaving Nigeria’s coach Éric Chelle weeping like a child and finding all sorts of excuses for their shortcomings.

“During all the penalty decisions the guy from Congo did some voodoo. Every time… Every time. So this is why I was a little nervous after him,” Chelle told reporters after the game.

Not to say that there is room for unsportsmanlike behaviour in the sport, but whenever an act is not illegal according to FIFA rules, it’s unwise for opponents to bemoan the activities of their counterparts. After all, the Super Eagles could have brought their own “voodoo” to the game.

Deep-Rooted Problems Within the Super Eagles

And therein lies the problem. The Nigerian national team has been so poor across the board that everyone seems eager to point out the wrongdoings of others instead of holding themselves accountable.

Nigeria, despite their recent World Cup pedigree, remains one of the powerhouses of African football. They have three AFCON titles and multiple top-three finishes - runners-up and third place - to show for their success over the years.

However, it seems that the tag now seems to slowly serve as a reminder of “what used to be”. Nigeria arguably has some of the most depth at their disposal, with several talismans plying their trade in Europe’s top five leagues - La Liga, the English Premier League, Serie A, the Bundesliga, and Ligue 1 - but the big names appear to have struggled to forge a formidable unit both on and off the pitch.

It has notably been Victor Osimhen who continues to wear the green and white jersey with pride, having been their leading man on and off the pitch, compared to the rest who are exposed once the Galatasaray marksman is not around.

Other African Teams Rising as Nigeria Falls

With the Super Eagles having clearly regressed, it has given other teams the platform to capitalise on their downfall and revive themselves. Take Bafana, for instance - the Hugo Broos-led side collected at least two points after back-to-back draws from a possible six.

And that, right there, was a huge achievement for Broos and his men. Back in the day, a Bafana clash against Nigeria was almost automatically a defeat, but that has changed. While Bafana have been ascending and reviving themselves, the Super Eagles have slowly been falling after ceasing to soar.

Of course, it sounds easy to lament the players for not pushing themselves and not sweating blood to return to the promised land, but it’s also worth noting that the administration of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has had a hand in the team’s deterioration.

Two days before their play-offs semi-final clash against Gabon - which ended 4–2 in favour of the Naija boys - Nigerian players boycotted training because they were still owed bonuses by the NFF.

That was clearly not a good look for the NFF, let alone for African football. After all, this was supposed to be a federation that is up to scratch, especially given that two of their players - Osimhen and Ademola Lookman - were the last winners of the coveted CAF Footballer of the Year award.

With Osimhen also in the running for this year’s Golden Ball, alongside Achraf Hakimi and Mohamed Salah, Nigeria’s failure in the play-off could have cost him the award to one of his African peers, who also had impressive seasons with Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool respectively.

Desabre’s Coaching Philosophy and Journey

And perhaps not having a star-studded squad has been a blessing in disguise for Desabre. His transformation of the national team has gone under the radar, given that only Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Yoane Wissa of West Ham and Newcastle are the notable superstars in their squad.

The 49-year-old has worked for 15 years on the continent, with stints at 11 different clubs - domestic and international - but he has never been one to build his team around superstars, instead prioritising team ability and cohesion.

And that’s why he has fond memories, starting with his time at ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast and now with the Leopards. And should he continue his stellar work, including achieving the improbable by guiding the team to the global showpiece, he might be lost to DR Congo. A prospect that shouldn’t be foreign to him, given that he’s quite the journeyman on the continent.

Some pundits and Bafana supporters have already tipped him to replace the outgoing Broos after the World Cup. But whether or not that will materialise remains to be seen.

A Moment of Well-Deserved Glory

For now, though, Desabre can bask in his glory. He has shown impeccable leadership and coaching acumen that have earned him a rare and precious reward. And that’s why others - including Chelle - can look at him with envy. He has achieved what most of his counterparts couldn’t with better resources.

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