William Troost-Ekong has called Nigeria’s absence from the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup a genuine setback, but says the disappointment needs to translate into concrete change rather than fade away once the tournament ends.

The Super Eagles missed out on the World Cup after a penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the final of the African play offs, extending a wait for a World Cup return that now stretches back to Russia 2018, Nigeria’s last appearance at the tournament.

Speaking to Supersport, Troost-Ekong said motivation was never the issue for this group of players, and that watching other African nations perform well at the tournament only sharpens the disappointment of Nigeria not being there. He argued that the squad’s blend of experience, including several players who featured at the 2018 World Cup, made the miss especially hard to take.

He was equally direct about what needs to happen next, saying the federation must use this setback as a genuine learning moment rather than let it pass without action. For Troost-Ekong, that means a hard look at how the team prepares and a clear identification of what has to change if Nigeria wants a realistic shot at qualifying for 2030.

He was careful to stress that commitment has never been lacking in the camp, insisting the players will keep working and exchanging ideas to get better. But he made clear that good intentions alone will not be enough this time, and that the changes required now carry real weight if the Super Eagles are to end their World Cup absence.