President Bola Tinubu has asked the Super Eagles to set their sights on the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON) after their World Cup qualification hopes were dashed in a playoff loss on Sunday.
The Super Eagles were eliminated by the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in a penalty shootout held in Morocco.
The decisive match ended 1-1 after extra time, with DR Congo ultimately triumphing 4-3 on penalties to advance to the Inter-Confederation play-off.
This marks the second consecutive time Nigeria has failed to qualify for the FIFA World Cup tournament.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commended the team’s efforts despite the painful outcome.
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“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” the President said.
He acknowledged the team’s hard fight, especially after winning their first playoff match.Tinubu also urged for a comprehensive review of the country’s football sector to prevent future failures.
He stated:”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 primary charge to the national team is to move swiftly past the disappointment and focus entirely on the continental tournament.
“Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory,” he said.
The AFCON is scheduled to be held in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026.
