The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) publicly apologized to President Bola Tinubu, the federal government, and millions of distraught Nigerians after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. It was one of the most painful nights in Nigerian football history.
Nigeria took an early lead in Sunday’s playoff final in Rabat thanks to Frank Onyeka’s deflected shot in the third minute. However, the celebrations were short-lived. Meschak Elia equalized for DR Congo in the first half, and despite 120 minutes of intense play, both sides failed to find the winning goal.
The match went to penalties—and Nigeria’s World Cup hopes vanished.
DR Congo kept their composure while the Super Eagles faltered, securing Congo’s advancement to the final round of the playoffs and leaving Nigeria stunned.
This defeat means Nigeria will miss two consecutive World Cups for the first time since its debut in 1994 – a bitter pill for a nation that loves football.
In a statement released on Monday, the NFF described the loss as “a moment of profound sadness.”
“The Nigerian Football Federation wishes to openly and sincerely apologize to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government, and millions of Nigerians… after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup,” the statement read.
The federation acknowledged the deep disappointment, recognizing the emotional burden the national team carries for over 200 million Nigerians.
“For a nation where the Super Eagles are a symbol of unity, hope, and shared pride, losing a second consecutive World Cup is heartbreaking. The pain among the players after the match was palpable.”
The NFF also thanked Nigerians for their support during the long qualifying campaign, describing football as “the national language and symbol of unity” that unites the country like nothing else.
Despite the pain, the federation pledged to rebuild trust and repair the damage done.
“We will assess the technical, administrative, and structural gaps that led to this outcome. We will take decisive steps to rebuild our national teams for future success.
We will rebuild pride. We will regain our place on the international stage.”
Attention now turns to the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, scheduled for December 2025–January 2026—a tournament the NFF believes can begin the healing process.
Nigeria reached the Africa Cup of Nations final earlier this year before losing to hosts Côte d’Ivoire, and the federation hopes the upcoming competition will usher in a new era of resilience and redemption. “Nigeria is a nation of spirit and unwavering hope. Just as our nation faces every challenge, so too will the Super Eagles,” the statement concluded.
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