President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has praised the Super Eagles for their “spirited effort” in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers — and urged the team to refocus on the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite their heartbreaking exit.
Nigeria’s World Cup dream was dashed when they drew 1–1 with DR Congo after extra time and subsequently lost 4–3 on penalties in the playoff match. Tinubu acknowledged the pain of the failure, especially as this marks the second consecutive World Cup missed by the Eagles.
In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu urged all stakeholders players, administrators, and football leadership — to “go back to the drawing board” and address systemic issues in order to rebuild.
He called on the Eagles to channel their disappointment into preparation for the AFCON scheduled for December 2025 to January 2026 in Morocco, declaring:
“Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory.”
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Editorial
President Tinubu’s response to the Super Eagles’ World Cup heartbreak is not a simple expression of consolation it is a measured call to action. In football, as in leadership, the true test of character arrives not only in moments of triumph but in the ability to learn, recalibrate, and rise again.
Losing to DR Congo on penalties is painful, especially when a nation’s hopes are pinned on global qualification. Yet Tinubu’s praise for effort, resilience, and spirit is not misplaced. He recognises what so many risk overlooking: that even failure can be instructive, if treated with honesty and ambition.
His demand that “loopholes” be plugged is neither symbolic nor tactical. It is structural. Nigerian football, from grassroots to boardrooms, has long needed more than short-term fixes. By urging administrators and players to return to the “drawing board,” Tinubu is signalling that change must come from within, that rebuilding must be intentional and comprehensive.
But what matters most is his forward-looking pivot: shifting all focus to AFCON. Rather than dwell in regret, he is urging a renewal of purpose. The Cup of Nations is more than a consolation for Nigeria, it is an opportunity. It is a chance to reset, to reimpose pride, and to prove that the Eagles are more than what happens in a single night.
If the administration, the federation, and the players heed his call, they may yet turn this moment of disappointment into a turning point. And if they fail, this message this mandate will be remembered not just as rhetoric, but as the challenge unfulfilled.
Did You Know?
- AFCON Dates The 2025 AFCON is scheduled to take place from December 2025 to January 2026 in Morocco.
- Statement Source The president’s remarks were delivered through his Special Adviser on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
- Consecutive World Cups Missed Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the second time in a row, a rare and painful moment for the Super Eagles.
- Call for Reform: Tinubu explicitly urged not just the players, but administrators and all football stakeholders to “go back to the drawing board” signalling that reform must be systemic.
- President’s Long-Term Support Earlier in the year, Tinubu had also pledged the federal government’s support for the Super Eagles to help them in their qualifying campaign.
