Flashback: The unforgettable matches between Nigeria, DR Congo

Femi Fabunmi 

As Nigeria and DR Congo prepare for another chapter in their long-standing football rivalry, a look at their past encounters shows a contest marked by big victories, tactical battles, and shifting dominance.

The two teams first met on 13 December 1969, when the Leopards then playing as Congo-Kinshasa overpowered the Super Eagles 5-0 in Kinshasa during an international friendly.

Nigeria responded years later with a strong performance at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations in Dire Dawa, defeating DR Congo 4-2 on 1 March 1976.

Their AFCON meetings continued to favour Nigeria, with the Eagles securing a 1-0 victory on 19 January 1992 in Ziguinchor, followed by a 2-0 win on 2 April 1994 in Tunis.

In friendly matches, Nigeria recorded one of its biggest wins in the rivalry on 3 March 2010, thrashing the Leopards 5-0 in Abuja. DR Congo, however, struck back five years later, claiming a 2-0 victory on 8 October 2015 in Visé, Belgium.

Their most recent meeting came on 27 May 2018, when both sides settled for a 1-1 draw in Port Harcourt.

Notably, between 1971 and 1997, DR Congo competed under the name Zaire, a period that includes several of these historic encounters.

With both teams set to face off again, the history shows a rivalry filled with drama, goals, and unforgettable moments and fans can expect yet another fierce contest.