By Maxwell Oyekunle
President Bola Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for what he described as a determined effort in their bid to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite Sunday’s playoff loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the president urged the team to put the disappointment behind them and immediately begin preparations for the 2026 African Cup of Nations, scheduled for January to February in Morocco.
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended on Sunday after the Super Eagles lost 4–3 on penalties to DR Congo in Morocco, following a 1–1 draw after extra time.
The defeat marked the second consecutive time Nigeria failed to reach the Mundial.
President Tinubu acknowledged the pain of missing out but said the players deserved praise for pushing deep into the qualifiers, especially after winning their first playoff match.
“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” he said.
He called on football authorities and stakeholders to address lapses exposed during the qualifiers.
“We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board,” he said.
President Tinubu added that national attention should now shift to the upcoming AFCON.
“Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory,” he said.
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