President Bola Tinubu has praised the Super Eagles for their fight in the World Cup playoff, despite their loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo in Morocco.
The President’s words were shared by his spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, in a statement released in Abuja. He asked the team to move on from the defeat and focus on preparing for the 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), set for December 2025 to January 2026 in Morocco.
Nigeria exited the World Cup race after a 1-1 draw in extra time and a 4-3 loss on penalties to DR Congo. This marks the second time in a row that the Super Eagles have failed to reach the World Cup.
Tinubu said the defeat was painful but that the players deserved praise for how they fought, especially after the earlier playoff win over Gabon. He added: “notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them.”
He called for a review of the team’s plans and systems, saying: “We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board. “Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory.”
The statement noted that Nigeria came close to AFCON success recently, losing the last final 2-1 to hosts Côte d’Ivoire.
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Tinubus support for Super Eagles is great, but should he focus on political matters instead? Lets discuss!
I disagree, Tinubus praise may distract the Super Eagles from their AFCON prep. Lets stay focused!
Why is Tinubu getting involved in football? Stick to politics, man! Let the coach do his job. 🤷♂️
Tinubus support for the Super Eagles is great, but is it just for show? Are there tangible actions being taken for AFCON prep?
Does Tinubus praise really matter in the grand scheme of things? Lets focus on the teams performance instead.