President Bola Tinubu has urged the Super Eagles to focus on winning the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco following their elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In a statement on Monday, his special adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said President Tinubu commended the team for their efforts in the World Cup playoff, despite losing to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) on Sunday.
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes ended after a 1-1 draw in extra time against DR Congo, with the Eagles losing 4-3 in the ensuing penalty shootout.
DR Congo advanced to the Inter-Confederation play-off, keeping their own World Cup bid active.
According to Mr Onanuga, Tinubu acknowledged the disappointment of missing the World Cup for a second consecutive tournament but noted that the team’s efforts in the qualifiers deserved recognition.
“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” the President 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 are drawn in Group C for the 2025 AFCON, alongside Tanzania’s Taifa Stars, Uganda’s Cranes and Tunisia’s Carthage Eagles.
Nigeria last won the tournament in 2013 in South Africa under the late coach Stephen Keshi, who had also led the team to the title as captain in 1994.
The country’s first AFCON title came in 1980 in Lagos, when the team, then called the Green Eagles, defeated Algeria 3-0 in the final.
President Tinubu’s statement emphasised that all stakeholders in Nigerian football must review strategies and prepare the team for the continental tournament, signaling a shift in focus from the World Cup to AFCON.
