Frank Onyeka Urges Super Eagles to Focus on 2025 AFCON After World Cup Heartbreak

Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has called on Nigeria to shift focus to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following the team’s heartbreaking failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Speaking after Nigeria’s dramatic 4-3 penalty shootout loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo in the African playoff final in Rabat on Sunday, Onyeka shared the pain felt by both the players and fans.

“We, the players, are hurting, just as much as Nigerians are hurting. Nigerians have every right to be very upset with us. It is very tough not to go to the next World Cup,” Onyeka said. “Some of us may not be around in five years, in 2030. It’s painful.

“But we have an AFCON to play in 34 days, and we need to get ready for that and do better than we did last time.”

The three-time African champions came agonizingly close to World Cup qualification but fell short in the penalty shootout. Now, attention turns to the 2025 AFCON, where the Super Eagles will aim to bounce back and restore pride to Nigerian football.