President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has charged the Super Eagles to shift attention to the 2026 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco, urging the team to recover quickly from Sunday’s World Cup playoff defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, the President said the team must now “focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations” after narrowly missing out on a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup for the second consecutive cycle.
Nigeria’s qualification hopes were extinguished in Rabat after a tense match ended 1-1 in extra time, with DR Congo edging the Eagles 4-3 on penalties to move into the Inter-Confederation play-off.
Despite the disappointment, Tinubu commended the players for their determination throughout the qualifiers, noting that they had shown resilience, particularly after winning the first leg of the playoff.
“Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them,” he said.
The President also called for a comprehensive review of the country’s football operations, urging administrators, coaches, players and stakeholders to return to the drawing board and “plug all the loopholes” that undermined the qualification campaign.
While acknowledging the pain felt by fans nationwide, he stressed that the upcoming AFCON—scheduled for January to February 2026—provides an immediate opportunity for redemption.
“Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory,” President Tinubu said, rallying the team to prepare adequately and aim for a strong continental outing

Harry Kane put the seal on flawless England’s record-setting finish to their World Cup qualifying campaign with a late double in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Albania.
After an eighth successive Group K victory, England are the first European side to go through a World Cup qualifying campaign of at least six matches with an 100 percent record and no goals conceded.
They are the first European team to win all their World Cup qualifiers since Germany in 2018.
England have not lost a World Cup qualifier in 39 games since 2009 when they were beaten 1-0 in Ukraine.
They scored 22 goals and allowed none in a perfect path to next year’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Spain, like England yet to concede a goal, and Norway have also won all their qualifiers. Both have one game left.
England’s run of 10 consecutive competitive wins without conceding a goal equals Spain’s European record.
The Three Lions also end 2025 with their highest win percentage in a calendar year since 1946 – nine victories from 10 games under Tuchel featuring only one blemish in a friendly loss to Senegal in June.
Tuchel started his reign with a 2-0 win against Albania in March and the same opponents book-ended a memorable first year in charge for the German.
Although England wrapped up their World Cup place in October, they followed Tuchel’s demand to stay focused, beating Serbia on Thursday and dispatching obdurate Albania.
Far sterner tests lie in in wait at the World Cup but Tuchel has recovered from a sluggish start to his reign to provide genuine belief that England can win a major trophy for the first time since 1966.
By the time they return to action with two friendlies in March, Tuchel will know who England will face at the World Cup after the draw in Washington on December 5.
Tuchel made seven changes as he brought Jude Bellingham back into the starting line-up for the first time since June after restricting him to a substitute appearance against Serbia.
Although England enjoyed over 70 percent of the possession, they found it hard to carve open Albania, on an eight-match unbeaten run that ranked as their best in 15 years.
Sylvinho’s combative side nearly snatched a shock lead when Elseid Hysaj curled just over from the edge of the area.
Left out of the October internationals, Bellingham had a point to prove to Tuchel as he fights for starting berth at the World Cup after Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers impressed in his absence.
The Real Madrid midfielder’s contribution was patchy until he drove forward to set up Jarrod Bowen for a low strike that Thomas Strakosha pushed around the post.
England’s clean-sheet run almost came to an end immediately after the interval.
Dean Henderson, deputising for Jordan Pickford, flung himself to the left to parry Arber Hoxha’s stinging shot.
Henderson made an equally good save moments later, blocking Hoxha’s close-range effort after Dan Burn’s miscued pass put England in danger.
Kane said on Saturday that England want to build an NFL-style playbook to help make the most of set-pieces at the World Cup.
Fittingly, the England captain, a noted NFL fan, struck from a set-piece in the 74th minute.
Bukayo Saka’s corner was flicked into the six-yard box and Kane tapped in after Strakosha failed to gather.
The Bayern Munich striker wasn’t done yet and he netted again in the 82nd minute to make it 78 goals for England in 112 appearances.
Marcus Rashford’s cross was perfectly weighted for Kane to thump his header past Strakosha from five yards, concluding England’s campaign with a flourish.

Portugal crushed Armenia 9-1 despite the absence of suspended talisman Cristiano Ronaldo on Sunday to clinch qualification for the 2026 World Cup finals.
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germain’s Joao Neves both scored a hat-trick as Roberto Martinez’s side racked up a huge win in Porto to top Group F.
Renato Veiga got the ball rolling for Portugal, with Goncalo Ramos and Francisco Conceicao also on the score sheet.
After a draw in Hungary in October and a surprise defeat in Ireland on Thursday, in which Ronaldo was sent off, Portugal wrapped up qualification at the third attempt in their final group match.
They will compete in a seventh consecutive edition of the World Cup, a tournament which the Euro 2016 champions are yet to win.
“We always want to win in the same way – to be convincing and control the game. It’s not always possible, but today we were effective and achieved a good victory,” said Fernandes.
With midfielder Fernandes playing a key role throughout, Portugal made a quick start by scoring in the seventh minute.
Fernandes’s vicious in swinging free-kick from just outside the left side of the box was pushed onto the post by goalkeeper Henri Avagyan but Veiga was on hand to head home the rebound.
The visitors shocked the hosts by scoring on their first attack to equalise, with Grant-Leon Ranos crossing for Armenia captain Eduard Spertsyan to strike.
However, Portugal quickly stepped up a gear and racked up an unassailable lead. Paris Saint-Germain striker Ramos intercepted a back pass and squeezed home his country’s second after rounding Avagyan.
Portugal put together a tidy move for their third, with Neves blasting home from the edge of the box after being teed up by Fernandes.
Neves netted a spectacular second with a free-kick which flew into the top right corner, leaving Avagyan with no chance.
Fernandes netted the fifth in first half stoppage time with a low penalty after Ruben Dias was fouled.
The Manchester United midfielder continued where he left off after the break, slotting home his second after being fed by Ramos.
Fernandes completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot after debutant substitute Carlos Forbs was felled.
Neves followed suit for Portugal’s eighth goal, smashing home after Veiga headed Fernandes’s cross into his path.
Juventus forward Conceicao added the ninth in stoppage time to seal one of his country’s biggest-ever victories.
“Now we can truly dream about the World Cup, I was very pleased with the players’ response (after the Ireland defeat),” said Martinez.
“We’re at the World Cup! Let’s go, Portugal!” wrote Ronaldo on social media platform X.
The striker could miss the start of the tournament depending on whether FIFA extend his suspension beyond the mandatory one-match ban he served against Armenia.
Ireland stunned Hungary with a late winner to triumph 3-2 in the other Group F match and reach the play-offs, with Troy Parrott following up his midweek brace against Portugal with a hat-trick.