President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for what he described as their “best efforts” in the bid to qualify for the FIFA World Cup, despite their defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Sunday’s playoff encounter.
Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the global football stage were dashed after the Eagles fell 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo in Morocco. The match had ended 1–1 after extra time, sending the contest into a tense shootout that ultimately favoured the Congolese, who now advance to the Inter-Confederation play-off.
President Tinubu, in a statement on Monday, acknowledged the disappointment felt across the country but urged the team and its supporters to remain positive.
He noted that although the defeat meant Nigeria would miss the World Cup for the second consecutive time, the Super Eagles deserved praise for pushing hard, especially after securing victory in their first playoff match.
“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” the President said.
He further urged football administrators and other stakeholders to conduct a thorough review of the team’s performance. “We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board.”
Looking ahead, President Tinubu charged the team to shift their focus to the upcoming African Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to take place in Morocco from January to February 2026.
“Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory,” he added.
The loss marks a painful setback for Nigerian football fans, but attention now turns to rebuilding and preparing for a strong outing at AFCON 2026.