President Bola Tinubu has urged the Super Eagles to focus their attention on the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup were dashed by DR Congo on Sunday.
The dramatic encounter, which took place in Morocco, ended 1-1 after extra time, but Nigeria lost 4-3 in the subsequent penalty shootout. This defeat dashed the nation’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga, the president urged the team and all stakeholders to accept the setback constructively and redirect their focus to the upcoming African Cup of Nations, scheduled for January to February 2026 in Morocco.
Read Also:‘The Match Was Very Close’ — Desabre’s Reacts To Congo’s Victory Over Super Eagles
“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them.
“We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board.
“Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory,” he added, emphasising that lessons from the World Cup qualifiers should inform preparations for the continental tournament.
9 Comments
Tinubu with you and APC still at the helm Nigeria will continue to have bad luck in all ramifications. Oga Clear road jare you and you cohorts Gusau dem… YOU PEOPLE ARE FAILING THIS COUNTRY
I think the president spoke well. but he should follow-up with adequate funding. this talk of allowances and backlog of salaries should stop. What i saw in that match is we need to get another striker into that squad that instill confidence in the players and fear in opponents becos the fear factor of the Super Eagles was gone when Oshimen was substituted
Nothing to expect from an organization that is run by enemies of the people its meant to served..
Picnic took corruption and nepotism to a different level. He was charged for stealing, owed years in players and coaches bonuses, created cabals to make exemptions for his boys in the team and in the nff… When a certain Balogun revealed these atrocities, he was made to pay the pricev and was unofficially removed from the team.
He madterminded the selection of clueless Gusau and his friends to lead the nff.. The main reason is to continue the usual corrupt practices.
Most sports journalists became their accomplices in this mission.
All these years of open raping and debasing of our football systems, the press acted like everyrhung was okay. The normal reporting of nff activities and players doing well in their clubsides became selective.. issues,
Now you’ve bundled the opportunity to raise your profiles with access to a better future and positioning in the greatest sport event including opportunity to the greatest country in the world. Now you sacrificed bigger opportunities and money for the little money you get from players and the nff.
To you emotional Super Eagles lovers, I say shame on you! You are so much interested in your tribesmen dominating the team! Instead of calling out the msin culprits and underperformers in the team, you chose to ignore because they are from.your tribes and go after others performing better..
Go read my post on repeated recycling of underperformers and the names I have mentioned.
Some of the players showed up playing with great commitment even when their being owed salaries. To all the players who defended well, scored, and made assists, I say thank you. Your career will continue to witness major progress !
Thank you Nwabali, Aina, Frederick, Bassey, Semi, Zaidu, Fisayo,Ndidi,
Onyeka, Onyedika, Lookman, Simon, Aro and Akor!! Better future awaits y’all
To all the honest and committed fans here, God bless you
Wwll, the water is running dry! Time to save mix
Typo: The water is running dry, its time to save our football. Heads must roll.. EFCC must probe past nff activities in the last decade..
Gusau Out !
Funny, I went back to watch a critical moment that would have handed a 2 – 0 lead by the 24th minute.
Ndidi and Lookman had a one-two exchange in the middle. Then, Lookman pulled away, anticipating a telegraphic pass from Ndidi, which he did really well. Osimhen had been marked out as Lookman tried to pull a dangerous cross from the left wing, so he squared it to an onrushing Ndidi, who gave him the initial beautiful pass to pull away from DRC defenders.
However, Chukwueze had seen the move and was also rushing from the middle to square it into the net with his left. Ndidi didn’t see Chukwueze and was focused on the pass from Lookman, ready to try a shot at goal with his right.
They clattered into each other, and Osimhen, as often, showed his frustration, remonstrating and throwing his hand in the air. I wonder who should have let the ball go to the other. Perhaps Ndidi has the right of way. But again, Chukwueze is more likely to score than Ndidi, who’s not guaranteed to score even if the goalkeeper is beaten.
This was exactly what led to Osimhen’s substitution at half time. He remonstrated with Lookman and Ndidi which almost led to a fight, then the coach decided to pull him out for peace to reign.
That was a great blunder from Chelle that cost us qualification
To Osimhen, you did your best for the team.. Stay blessed, your carerer will continue to progress with bigger accomplishments.
Is it true osimhen got substituted bcos of a fall out with Lookmon during the half time break? If thus true then Chelle has committed a CAP offense right there, how dare you sub. Ur best player , no coach will touch cr7, Messi or Mbappe for correcting other player. I’m in support of chelle continuity at least for next month AFCON as changing coach at this time might affect the team chemistry. All chelle need now before the AFCON is to source for a reliable backup for VO and a good midfielder.
Why are y’all lamenting and gnashing your teeth…..?
What happened to “…..there’s nothing special about qualifying for tournaments…..”….??? LMAOoooo
What happened to “….. it’s better not to qualify for the World Cup than to qualify and not go there to win it…..:”??
Y’all will learn…!