Nigeria, Nov. 17 -- Just months ago, Nigeria's hopes of reaching the 2026 FIFA World Cup looked buried beneath poor form, chaotic transitions, and dwindling belief.

Yet the Super Eagles clawed their way back into relevance, fought through turbulence, and muscled themselves into the playoff final where one ticket; Africa's lone intercontinental playoff spot awaited.

But in Rabat on Sunday night, the journey ended in heartbreak.

Nigeria drew 1-1with DR Congo, then fell 4-3 on penalties, ending a World Cup pursuit that had demanded sweat, grit, and fragile hope.

It was the kind of night that begins with promise, steadies the nerves, and slowly unravels into a painful reveal; a mirror showing everything the team had tried to hide.

To und...