By Aderonke Ojo
Director General of the National Institute of Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has urged the Super Eagles to quickly put behind them the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup and redirect their energy toward a strong outing at next month’s Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the mundial after Eric Chelle’s men suffered a dramatic 4–3 defeat to the Leopards of DR Congo on Sunday in Rabat, Morocco.
The topsy-turvy encounter stretched through 90 minutes of regulation time and an additional 30 minutes of extra time, ultimately sealing the fate of the three-time African champions, who will now miss a second consecutive World Cup.
Shaibu, the immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State, described the outcome as painful but praised the commitment displayed by the players.
He appealed to Nigerians not to withdraw their support for the national team, stressing that encouragement from fans remains crucial as the Eagles turn their attention to the continental tournament.
“ Missing out again from the World Cup is very painful. The boys put in a strong performance but they lost gallantly. I knew they also wanted to go to the World Cup, but it was not meant to be,” he said.
The NIS boss charged the team to use the forthcoming AFCON as an opportunity to redeem themselves and give Nigerians something to celebrate.
“I want to charge the boys to shift their focus to the upcoming African Cup of Nations and use the AFCON to appease Nigerians, fans, and supporters by winning their fourth title in Morocco next month,” he added.
Shaibu further urged Nigerians to stay united behind the team despite the setback: “It’s an understatement to say that we are all pained by the loss, but I want to ask Nigerians to move on and put this defeat behind us.”