President Bola Tinubu has urged Nigeria’s national football team, the Super Eagles, to shift their focus toward the 2026 Africa Cup of Nations after their defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo ended the country’s hopes of qualifying for the FIFA World Cup.
The position of the Nigerian government was conveyed in an official statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Tinubu on Information and Strategy.
On Sunday night in Morocco, the Super Eagles were eliminated after a dramatic playoff where the match ended 1–1 after extra time before DR Congo advanced 4–3 on penalties, securing their place in the Inter Confederation play off.
President Tinubu said that although missing out on the World Cup for the second consecutive time was painful, the players deserved commendation for their determination throughout the qualifiers.
“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” he said in the State House statement.
The President insisted that Nigeria’s football leadership must take responsibility and begin urgent reforms.
“We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board,” the statement quoted him as saying.
Looking ahead to the AFCON tournament scheduled for January to February 2026 in Morocco, President Tinubu added: “Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory.”
