Tinubu Urges Super Eagles To Focus On AFCON After World Cup Miss
President Bola Tinubu has charged the Super Eagles to channel all efforts towards the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations after failing to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
The Eagles lost 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo on Sunday in the final of the African playoffs for the World Cup. The match ended 1-1 after extra time.
Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi missed their spot kicks, while Chancel Mbemba converted the decisive penalty to send the Congolese into the intercontinental playoffs.
In a statement on Monday, Tinubu praised the players for their efforts and assured that his administration would continue to support the team.
He urged football administrators, players and other stakeholders to return to the drawing board and plug all loopholes.
Tinubu said “Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them.”
He added “We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board.”
He stressed that national attention must now shift to the 2025 AFCON, saying the team must recover lost glory.
Nigeria also failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, marking the first back-to-back absence since the country’s debut in 1994.
The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to hold in Morocco from 21 December 2025 to 18 January 2026.
The Super Eagles are in Group C alongside Tunisia, Tanzania and Uganda.
Nigeria will be hoping to improve on their second-place finish at the last tournament in Côte d’Ivoire.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
