NFF Apologises to President Tinubu as Super Eagles Miss 2026 World Cup

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has issued a public apology to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and millions of Nigerians after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Nigeria’s campaign had a poor start with no wins in their first four qualifiers, but the arrival of coach Eric Chelle revived the team. They reached the play-offs, beat Gabon in the semi-final, but fell to DR Congo in the final, ending their World Cup hopes.

After the loss, President Tinubu, through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, urged Nigerians to accept the disappointment “constructively” and shift focus to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations. He said, “Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players… We must now plug all the loopholes… Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations.”

The NFF followed with a lengthy apology, saying it “wishes to openly and sincerely apologise” to the President, the government, and fans. It described the defeat as “a moment of profound sadness” for a nation where football is “a symbol of unity, hope, and collective pride.” The federation said the players felt “palpable” pain in the dressing room and acknowledged the “expectations Nigerians rightly hold.”

The NFF praised the support received from the government, National Assembly, ministries, diplomatic missions, the media, and fans, calling football “a national language… a powerful symbol of unity.” It promised a “rigorous review process” to address technical and administrative gaps, vowing, “We will rebuild trust. We will restore pride. We will reclaim our standing on the global stage.”

Nigeria now turns its attention to AFCON 2025 in Morocco, hoping to redeem its image after missing two straight World Cups.