Portugal 1-1 DR Congo: Could Victor Osimhen have fired Super Eagles past Cristiano Ronaldo & co?

Victor Osimhen likely watched from home as Portugal were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against DR Congo in their opening Group K match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Afrik-Foot reports.

It is a result that immediately opens the door to discussions about what Nigeria’s Super Eagles might have achieved had they qualified for the tournament.

At the NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas, Roberto Martínez’s Portugal entered the contest against the Leopards as overwhelming favourites. The European giants dominated possession with 75 percent of the ball and completed 459 passes, but they struggled to break down a disciplined Congolese side that refused to be intimidated.

Portugal struck first after only six minutes when João Neves timed his run perfectly to meet Pedro Neto’s cross and head beyond the goalkeeper. The early goal appeared to set the stage for a comfortable evening.

However, DR Congo remained organised and patient. Their reward arrived deep into first-half stoppage time when Arthur Masuaku delivered a dangerous cross following a short-corner routine. Yoane Wissa escaped his marker at the far post and powered home a header to level the score at 1-1.

AirWissa takes flight ✈️🇨🇩

DR Congo score their 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐒𝐓 #FIFAWorldCup goal 🤩🚀

📺 Stream #FIFAWorldCup2026 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/vj4FTZbxxg

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) June 17, 2026

The match also saw Cristiano Ronaldo make history. At 41 years and 132 days old, the Portugal captain became the oldest outfield player ever to start a World Cup match. Yet the landmark occasion ended in frustration as he missed two promising opportunities in the second half.

Portugal pushed hard for a winner, with Bruno Fernandes coming closest in the closing stages, but his effort drifted narrowly wide as DR Congo celebrated a historic first World Cup point.

Why a Victor Osimhen-led Super Eagles could have caused Portugal more problems

Following the result, Portugal would probably be grateful they did not face Nigeria, who missed the World Cup after a heartbreaking penalty-shootout defeat to DR Congo in the African play-off final in November 2025.

Looking at the way the game unfolded, the Super Eagles would likely have posed a different challenge for Portugal.

While DR Congo relied mainly on defensive organisation and quick counters, Nigeria possess attacking weapons capable of hurting elite opponents in transition. Victor Osimhen’s speed, physical strength and movement behind defenders could have been particularly dangerous against a Portuguese defence that appeared uncomfortable whenever DR Congo attacked directly.

Portugal’s defensive vulnerability was exposed by Wissa’s equaliser from a cross. That situation would have suited Osimhen perfectly. The Napoli striker is regarded as one of the most dominant aerial forwards in world football and thrives when attacking deliveries into the penalty area.

Ademola Lookman would also have been a major factor. The Atalanta star’s ability to drive at defenders, create chances and finish clinically could have punished the spaces Portugal occasionally left open despite controlling possession. Recall that a depleted Super Eagles side only lost narrowly to full-strength Portugal on the eve of the World Cup.

Interestingly, DR Congo generated a higher expected goals tally (0.85) than Portugal (0.69) despite seeing only 25 percent of the ball. That statistic suggests Portugal were vulnerable whenever their opponents managed to break forward with purpose.

Despite the attacking strengths of Osimhen and Lookman, victory would not have been guaranteed for the Super Eagles.

Portugal’s greatest strength remains their midfield quality. Players such as Bruno Fernandes, João Neves and Bernardo Silva are capable of controlling matches and creating chances through sustained pressure.

DR Congo earned their point largely because they defended with discipline for long periods and limited Portugal to only seven shots. Nigeria have often struggled to maintain compact defensive shape against top European opposition, and that could have become a problem over 90 minutes.

The Super Eagles would have needed their midfield to withstand Portugal’s dominance while preventing Ronaldo and his teammates from finding dangerous pockets of space around the penalty area.

Nevertheless, DR Congo’s performance showed that Portugal are not unbeatable. Given Nigeria’s superior attacking firepower, particularly through Osimhen and Lookman, the Super Eagles would certainly have had a realistic chance of defeating the 2016 European champions.

In the end, Portugal’s draw with DR Congo serves as another painful reminder of what Nigeria missed after their dramatic play-off exit last year.