The Director General of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has urged the Super Eagles to put the disappointment of missing the 2026 World Cup behind them and channel their energy towards winning next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Nigeria’s hopes of returning to football’s biggest stage ended on Sunday in Rabat, where Eric Chelle’s side fell 4–3 to the Leopards of DR Congo after 120 minutes of dramatic, end-to-end football. The defeat confirmed the Super Eagles’ second consecutive absence from the World Cup, a blow that has left fans across the country deeply frustrated.
Shaibu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, described the setback as “very painful” but insisted the team must now turn the page.
“Missing out again from the World Cup is very painful,” he said. “The boys put in a strong performance but they lost gallantly. I know they wanted to be at the World Cup, but it was not meant to be.”
He challenged the players to approach AFCON with renewed determination and to use the tournament as an opportunity to restore national pride.
“I want to charge the boys to shift their focus to the upcoming AFCON and use it to appease Nigerians, fans and supporters by winning a fourth title in Morocco next month,” he said.
Shaibu also appealed to Nigerians to stand behind the team despite the disappointment, stressing that national support remains essential as preparations for AFCON intensify.
“It’s an understatement to say we are all pained by the loss, but we must move on and put this defeat behind us,” he said. “I urge Nigerians to continue supporting the national team at all times.”
With AFCON fast approaching, attention now turns to how the Super Eagles will respond under pressure and whether they can convert heartbreak into redemption on the continental stage.
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