‘Disappointment of Emotional Depth’, NFF Apologises to President Tinubu, Nigerians Over World Cup Qualification Failure
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has apologised to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians after the nation’s senior men’s national team, the Super Eagles, failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, describing the outcome as “a disappointment of great weight and emotional depth.”
ThelensNG reports that Nigeria lost 4-3 on penalties to D.R. Congo after a 1-1 draw over 120 minutes of action at the Stade Prince Moulay Hassan in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday night.
Consequently, D.R. Congo advanced to the intercontinental playoff in a bid to qualify for the mundial to be hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
In a statement on Monday, the NFF said: “The Nigeria Football Federation wishes to openly and sincerely apologise to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR), to the Federal Government as a whole; and to millions of Nigerians, most especially our passionate, loyal football fans, following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals.
“Sunday’s loss to DR Congo in the Africa Play-off Final in Rabat remains a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football. For a nation where the Super Eagles serve as a symbol of unity, hope, and collective pride, missing out on the World Cup for a second consecutive time is a disappointment of great weight and emotional depth.”
The Federation acknowledged that the team did not deliver the result Nigerians deserved.
“The NFF, the technical crew, and the players understand the gravity of this moment. We understand the expectations Nigerians rightly hold. We understand the passion and sacrifice of a country that has always stood firmly behind its team, through triumphs and trials. And we recognise that our collective effort did not deliver the outcome this nation deserved.”
