In the wake of a crushing and historic elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on Nigeria’s senior national football team, the Super Eagles, to immediately turn the page and channel their disappointment into fierce preparation for the forthcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament scheduled for Morocco.
The directive came barely 24 hours after the Super Eagles suffered a painful exit at the hands of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in a tense inter-confederation play-off decided on penalties. The match, played on neutral ground in Morocco on Sunday, November 16, 2025, ended 1-1 after extra time before DR Congo triumphed 4-3 in the shootout, securing the last remaining ticket to the inter-confederation play-off stage and effectively ending Nigeria’s dream of appearing at the expanded 48-team World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In a statement personally signed and released through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu acknowledged the profound national disappointment that has gripped millions of football-loving Nigerians. This defeat marks the second consecutive World Cup cycle in which the three-time African champions have failed to qualify, a bitter pill for a country that prides itself on being one of Africa’s football powerhouses and the most populous nation on the continent.
“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” the President said. “We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board.”
The President’s tone was firm yet motivational, emphasizing that dwelling on the setback would serve no purpose. He issued a clear rallying cry: “Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory.”
The timing of the elimination could hardly be more stinging. Nigeria had finished second in a difficult qualifying group behind Rwanda and ahead of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Benin Republic, and Lesotho. The new CAF-FIFA play-off format forced the Super Eagles into a sudden-death knockout against DR Congo, a team riding a wave of confidence after topping their own group. Despite dominating large spells of the encounter and creating numerous chances, defensive lapses and profligate finishing in front of goal ultimately proved costly. The penalty shootout miss by key players sent shockwaves across the country, with fans in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, and beyond expressing heartbreak on social media and in public gatherings.
For a generation of talented Nigerian footballers—many of whom ply their trade at top European clubs such as Victor Osimhen (Napoli), Ademola Lookman (Atalanta), Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan), Alex Iwobi (Fulham), and Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City)—this failure represents a devastating missed opportunity. Several of these stars are entering or already in their prime years, and the expanded 2026 World Cup was seen as the perfect stage to showcase African football to a global audience. Instead, Nigeria joins other traditional heavyweights like Egypt and Cameroon on the list of notable absentees.
Yet, as President Tinubu rightly pointed out, redemption is closer than it appears. The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, postponed from its original mid-2025 slot and now rescheduled to run from December 21, 2025, to January 18, 2026, will also be hosted by Morocco—the very country that witnessed Nigeria’s World Cup dream die. The irony is impossible to ignore. Less than five weeks after the penalty heartbreak in the same North African nation, the Super Eagles will return to Moroccan soil with a golden chance to reclaim continental supremacy and restore national pride.
Nigeria last won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013 under the late coach Stephen Keshi, defeating Burkina Faso in the final in South Africa. Since then, the team has reached the round of 16 in 2019 and narrowly lost the 2023 final to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in a dramatic tournament. The squad that will assemble for the upcoming edition retains the core of that 2023 runner-up team, bolstered by emerging talents and returning veterans. Expectations are sky-high: anything short of lifting the trophy will be seen by many as another failure.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), under President Ibrahim Gusau, now faces intense scrutiny. Questions are already being asked about technical direction, player selection policy, domestic league development, youth investment, and the overall administrative framework that has seen Nigeria slip from being regular World Cup participants (appearing in six of the last eight tournaments) to serial qualifiers only on the continental stage.
President Tinubu’s charge therefore extends beyond the players and technical crew. It is a national call to action. Football administrators must address long-standing issues such as poor planning, late preparation camps, unpaid bonuses, and logistical nightmares that have plagued previous campaigns. Coaches—whether the current interim handler or a new permanent appointee—must instill a winning mentality, tighten defensive organization, and find solutions to the perennial problem of converting dominance into goals.
For the players, the message is simple: the jersey carries the hopes of over 200 million people. The green-white-green must be worn with pride, passion, and purpose. The World Cup door may have slammed shut, but the door to African glory in Morocco stands wide open.
As the nation mourns what might have been in 2026, President Tinubu has set the tone: heal quickly, learn fast, and attack the Africa Cup of Nations with everything. The Super Eagles have been written off before and have risen spectacularly. This talented generation owes Nigeria nothing less than a triumphant return from Morocco with the continental crown firmly back where it belongs—on Nigerian heads.
The countdown to December 21 has already begun. It is time to recover the lost glory.
