The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has formally apologised to President Bola Tinubu, the federal government, and the nation following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
In an emotional statement, the NFF described the defeat to DR Congo as “a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football,” noting how deeply the miss cuts into the country’s collective pride.They acknowledged the expectations placed on the team and admitted that despite the support from fans, government, and other stakeholders, their performance fell short
Inside the dressing room, the atmosphere was reportedly heavy. According to the NFF, many players were visibly shaken and had difficulty speaking immediately after the final whistle.
However, while lamenting the outcome, the federation expressed gratitude for the support they received, stressing that football remains a unifying force in Nigeria. They committed to “decisive steps” to rebuild, pledging to examine and address the structural and technical gaps that contributed to the failure.
Their focus now shifts rapidly to the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where they hope to regroup and restore pride under the same coaching and technical setup.
