‘A moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football’: NFF apologises to Tinubu, Nigerians after Super Eagles’ World Cup failure

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued a heartfelt apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Government, and millions of Nigerians following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the global stage were dashed on Sunday after a 2–0 defeat to DR Congo in the Africa Play-off Final in Rabat, Morocco.

The result means the Super Eagles will miss the World Cup for the second consecutive time, a setback that has left fans across the country deeply disappointed.

In a statement released on Monday, the NFF described the loss as ‘a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football,’ acknowledging the weight of expectations and the passion of supporters.

‘Football in Nigeria is more than a game. It is a national language, a bridge across cultures, a source of pride and emotional identity,’ the federation said.

The NFF noted that the players were visibly distraught in the dressing room after the match, with many struggling to speak. It also expressed gratitude to the Federal Government, the National Assembly, key ministries, diplomatic missions, the media, and fans for their unwavering support throughout the qualification campaign.

Looking ahead, the federation pledged to conduct a ‘rigorous review process’ to address technical, administrative, and structural gaps. It vowed to rebuild trust, restore pride, and reposition Nigerian football for future success.

Attention now turns to the Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, which the NFF described as an opportunity for ‘healing, renewal, and resilience.’

The federation assured Nigerians that the Super Eagles will rise again, insisting that this disappointment will not define the nation’s footballing future.