Profound sadness — NFF apologises to Tinubu, Nigerians after Super Eagles World Cup disappointment
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Expected 23-man final squad

Profound sadness — NFF apologises to Tinubu, Nigerians after Super Eagles World Cup disappointment

Faruq Ibrahim 21:05 - 17.11.2025

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) released an apology statement after Super Eagles fail to qualify for World Cup.

The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) have published a statement through their social media platforms, apologising to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and football fans in the country after the Super Eagles crashed out of World Cup qualification

Fans of the national team suffered dismay and disappointment on Sunday evening, when the Super Eagles lost the CAF playoff finals to DR Congo on penalties, which effectively ended their World Cup ambitions. 

After failing to qualify for the 2022 edition of the tournament, the loss to Congo meant that Nigeria will effectively miss consecutive World Cups 

NFF statement 

After Nigeria's gutsy win over Gabon in the semi-final, the presidency put out a statement, congratulating the players. With the defeat to Congo, however, came a call from the country's leadership for large-scale improvement

NFF then apologised to the president of the country via X, and they extended the pleas to the football-loving members of the populace. 

“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,” the statement read. 

“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 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.”