Ademola Lookman refused to sidestep questions about Nigeria’s painful World Cup qualifying failure during a post-match press conference in Fes on Monday. He acknowledged the wound remains open following November’s penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo.
“The fact that we didn’t qualify for the FIFA World Cup is not going to go away,” Lookman stated candidly. “We have to deal with that.”
However, the African star quickly pivoted to present realities. Nigeria face Algeria in Saturday’s quarterfinal clash in Marrakesh.
“But we are at the AFCON, and we now have a big game to play in five days,” he continued. “We have to prepare for that.”
Tournament excellence emerges From disappointment
Lookman’s words mirror his on-pitch performances. The London-born winger has registered three goals and four assists through four matches in Morocco, establishing himself as the tournament’s most decisive player.
His latest masterclass came on Monday evening when Nigeria demolished Mozambique 4-0 in the Round of 16. Lookman scored once and provided two assists, earning his second Man of the Match award of the competition.
Statistical analysis from Sofascore shows Lookman leads all AFCON participants with an 8.93 tournament rating. Egypt’s Mohamed Salah trails at 8.37, while Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza sits third at 8.17.
Nigeria have scored 12 goals across four matches under head coach Eric Chelle. The Super Eagles won all three group stage encounters before dispatching Mozambique with clinical efficiency.
World Cup pain runs deep
Nigeria’s absence from the 2026 World Cup represents a bitter pill for one of Africa’s football powerhouses. The Super Eagles lost 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo on November 16 in Rabat after a 1-1 draw through 120 minutes.
Frank Onyeka gave Nigeria an early advantage before DR Congo equalised through Meschack Elia. The match extended to penalties where Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi all failed from the spot.
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The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) subsequently filed a formal protest with FIFA alleging DR Congo fielded ineligible players who held dual nationality. FIFA dismissed the appeal in late December according to multiple reports.
For Lookman, the disappointment cut particularly deep. He addressed the failure in December interviews before AFCON began.
“The reality of that is disappointing for all of us and the nation,” Lookman told Elegbete TV Sports. “Hopefully we can use that pain into something positive and turn it into something powerful to drive us.”
Nigeria’s quarterfinal kickoff is set for Saturday at 11:00 AM ET in Marrakesh. The winner advances to next week Wednesday’s semifinals with the tournament final scheduled for January 18 in Rabat.
