President Bola Tinubu has commended the Super Eagles for their efforts in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying playoffs, despite Sunday’s defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Morocco.

“Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory,” Mr Tinubu said in a statement on Monday by his media aide, Bayo Onanuga.

Mr ‎Tinubu urged the team to put the loss behind them and focus on preparations for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) scheduled for December 2025 to January 2026 in Morocco.

‎The Eagles were edged out of the qualifiers after a 1-1 draw in extra time, followed by a 4-3 penalty loss to DR Congo, marking Nigeria’s second consecutive failure to qualify for the World Cup.

The president said that although the defeat was painful, the team deserved commendation for their spirited push, particularly after winning the first playoff match against Gabon.

‎He added that “notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them.

‎“We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board.”

The Super Eagles fell just short in the last AFCON final, edged narrowly 2-1 by hosts Côte d’Ivoire in a tense showdown that left Nigeria with a hard-fought silver.

(NAN)