(Video) Nigeria vs DR Congo live: Onyeka and Elia score as World Cup playoff final sits 1-1 at halftime | OneFootball

Onyeka strikes in 3rd minute before Elia punishes Ndidi error in Rabat showdown

(Video) Nigeria vs DR Congo live: Onyeka and Elia score as World Cup playoff final sits 1-1 at halftime

As Africa’s final 2026 World Cup playoff rages on in Rabat, Nigeria & DR Congo have already traded heavyweight blows in gripping first half with the score standing at 1-1 at the time of writing.

3' – Frank Onyeka gives Nigeria dream start

Nigeria needed just three minutes to break the deadlock. A cross from the left wasn’t fully cleared by the DR Congo defence and the ball fell kindly to Frank Onyeka on the edge of the area.

The Besiktas midfielder struck firm, low effort that took deflection off defender and wrong footed goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi nestling into the bottom corner.

32' – Mechak Elia punishes Ndidi’s error

DR Congo’s response arrived just after the half-hour mark. Under relatively little pressure, Alex Iwobi gave the ball away in midfield allowing DR Congo to spring quick counter.

The ball was worked wide and then whipped into the box towards the penalty spot.

Wilfred Ndidi got to it first but failed to clear cleanly, his touch only diverting the ball into the path of Mechak Elia who finished calmly from close range to make it 1-1.

A finely balanced tie

The match has underlined how thin the margins are at this level. As things stand, Onyeka’s early strike and Elia’s clinical reply are the defining moments of contest that is still wide open and could yet produce more drama before full time.