The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has apologised for the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Eric Chelle’s side lost 4-3 on penalties to the Leopards of Democratic Republic of Congo in the final of the African playoffs in Rabat on Sunday night.
NFF Begs President Tinubu And Nigerians
“NFF wishes to openly and sincerely apologise to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), to the Federal Government as a whole; and to millions of Nigerians, most especially our passionate, loyal football fans, following the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals,” the football said in a statement on Monday.
“Sunday’s loss to DR Congo in the Africa Play-off Final in Rabat remains a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football. For a nation where the Super Eagles serve as a symbol of unity, hope, and collective pride, missing out on the World Cup for a second consecutive time is a disappointment of great weight and emotional depth.
“The NFF, the technical crew, and the players understand the gravity of this moment. We understand the expectations Nigerians rightly hold. We understand the passion and sacrifice of a country that has always stood firmly behind its team, through triumphs and trials. And we recognise that our collective effort did not deliver the outcome this nation deserved.
“In the dressing room after the match, the pain among the players was palpable. Many struggled to speak.
Read Also:Voodoo Not Responsible For Super Eagles Loss To DR Congo –Udeze
“Throughout the long journey of this qualification campaign, we were privileged to receive enormous support from the Federal Government through the National Sports Commission, the National Assembly, key Ministries, Departments and Agencies, our diplomatic missions, the media, and, above all, the passionate fans whose devotion remains unmatched anywhere in the world.
“Football in Nigeria is more than a game. It is a national language. A bridge across cultures, a source of pride and emotional identity. A powerful symbol of unity that binds over 200 million people as one family. We owe it to this nation to honour that bond with sincerity, accountability, and action.”
Focus On AFCON 2025
The NFF further said attention will now be on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.
“As we look forward, our immediate attention turns to the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, which begins shortly. This tournament presents an opportunity for healing, for renewal, and for demonstrating the resilience that has always defined Nigerian football,” it added.
“In the coming days, the NFF Board and Management will enter into a rigorous review process, honest, uncompromising, and strategic. We will evaluate the technical, administrative, and structural gaps that led to this outcome. And we will take decisive steps to reposition our national teams for future success.
“We make this solemn commitment to the people of Nigeria: We will rebuild trust. We will restore pride. We will reclaim our standing on the global stage. We will not allow this disappointment to be the final word on Nigerian football.
“Nigeria is a nation of resilience, of spirit, of unyielding hope. Just as our people rise from every challenge, so too will the Super Eagles.”
11 Comments
Corrupt as hell!
Incompetent as incompetent can be.
The rank ineptitude of The NFF is a microcosm of the ills that plague Nigeria. People not fit to hold public office, maneuvering their way into positions of power.
In Nigeria, nothing is done on merit.
Callous rulers. You have managed to turn a country blessed with some rare earth minerals into one of the most impoverished nations in the world.
Shame on all you!
Keep your apology. It’s too late. Even when you have the second chance. Just imagine. Your lack of seriousness and sentiments in hiring incompetent coach and over hyping our foreign base player must stop.
NFF must be overhaul as Mikel obi had earlier suggested
NFF were experimenting with incompetent coach before now. When other countries were serious hiring best coach. You must fail again comes 2030. Nigeria football is dead
We shall shift focus to support Morocco football teams as sole representative of African football
In a good country by now the NFF should have resigned I don’t know what they are doing apologizing when they caused it from the onset, how can they appoint so many coaches for just one qualification round
Yes, the Nigerian people will rise from the challenge of NFF ONIGBESE chronic corruption and gross incompetence. Is it now, after elimination, that you want to review policies and procedures? Talk about medicine after death!
Where was this commitment and focus when we needed it?
The Nigerian government should hear the cry of their people, writhing in severe pain caused by these useless NFF. Have a sit down with FIFA, and carry them along in the process of disengagement of these scoundrels from office. FIFA will cooperate if the reason for removal is corruption. These NFF already have a case with FIFA regarding mismanagement of funds provided for stadia construction. So the corruption of these NFF is no news to FIFA. We can avoid a ban by involving FIFA in the process of mass sacking the Nff board members and the inept technical director.
The rise of Nigerian football begins with getting rid of these misfits! Let’s get it done asap!
This is what you guys normally says, 2morow what we are going to hear is that serezo has been apointed se coach.
Develope our junior football, improve our local so as to reduce reliance on this foreing born players. They seems not to thrive when it comes to african football.
Give samson siasia a chance and get this voodoo coach of a thing away.
@Wike when will you people get it into your HEad.. You have Foreign born players, in Cardiff City In England, Playing in Wes Brom in the second Division what do you expect why don’t we have the ones playing in Chelsea, Arsenal, (Ethan Nwaneri ) and co why are we always chasing the half baked ones, if we want to get our dual nationals why not the ones in Bigger Clubs or in theier 20’s and on a good trajectory i.e. KAyode of Brentford we alwasy go for the weak ones and that is the result, NFF knows going for the big ones will mean their House has to be in order and they are not prepared to do that, oka why is Musiala, Eze (a mindfielder Nigeria actaully needs more than England) a Saka not playing for Nigeria? have you ever sat down and asked yourself, stop castigating them we just always get the ones that only have fall back plan as they are not good enough to make the Englands and Germany’s!. so we get the scraps..
#NFFRESIGN
It’s not the fault of Eric Chelle if he has been appointed on time in place of finidi George and peseiro Nigeria will qualify have been saying it and I will say it again eric Chelle is the best coach for the super eagles
One international tabloid wrote that in the 3 years that Desabre has had to tweak this DRC team, Nigeria have had 7 managerial spells:
Peserio
Eguavoen (twice)
Finidi (twice)
Amunike
Now, Chelle.
As it stands, another labbadia fiasco will ensue if Chelle doesn’t want to return to eagles because NFF will never go for top rated coaches and a big no to any local coach.
Someone was advocating sia sia who is not even coaching actively right now.
I just dey laugh.
The mumu NFF has given Chelle ultimatum to reach next months afcon final or be sacked for not delivering on the playoff mandate.
I just dey laugh but it’s possible if Chelle is man enough to call up suitable replacements for our floundering players and bench the non performing ones.
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Sack everyone in that glass house Nff people, Sack and arrest gusau and that dubious amaju pinnik, amaju pinnik is corrupt as hell. Sack the full Nff. President Tinubu, CAN YOU DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR ONCE??
Not need to win next nation cub. We’re hungry for rebuild the team with players have Nigerian football mentality, African football style and stronger motivation to fight for the position in national team. Not play very poor game and replaced. Then come as start lineup for important matches. we need more Akor Adam’s players mentality and football style. Iwobe among another players sorry for them not a national team players level.