President Bola Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for their efforts in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying play-offs, despite Sunday’s defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Morocco.

In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja by his spokesman, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, the president urged the team to put the loss behind them and redirect their focus to preparations for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), scheduled to hold from December 2025 to January 2026 in Morocco.

The Super Eagles were eliminated after a 1-1 draw in extra time, followed by a 4-3 penalty shoot-out loss to DR Congo, marking Nigeria’s second consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.

President Tinubu said that although the defeat was painful, the players deserved commendation for their spirited push, particularly after winning the first play-off match against Gabon.

“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” he said.
“We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board. Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory.”

The Super Eagles narrowly lost the last AFCON final, falling 2-1 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire in a tense encounter that earned Nigeria a hard-fought silver medal.