Nigeria fans are coming to terms with the fact that the Super Eagles, three-time African champions, will miss successive World Cups following a turbulent qualifying campaign. The team faced two managerial changes and off-field disruptions, including players boycotting training over unpaid allowances.
A talented squad featuring Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman, and Alex Iwobi could not secure one of the 48 spots at the expanded 2026 World Cup after losing to DR Congo in a penalty shootout during Africa’s play-off final.
The 2026 tournament will be hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Nigeria, ranked fifth in Africa, will miss the chance to add to their previous World Cup and Olympic successes.
Penalty Heartbreak Against DR Congo
Nigeria started well against DR Congo, with Frank Onyeka scoring early. However, Meschack Elia equalized soon after, and Nigeria struggled after Osimhen left the field injured at halftime.
In the penalty shootout, Calvin Bassey missed for Nigeria, followed by saves against Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi. In frustration, coach Eric Chelle accused a DR Congo staff member of using “voodoo” during the shootout, a rare and controversial claim in modern football.
Off-Field Problems
Off-field issues disrupted Nigeria’s preparation for crucial matches. Just two days before the semi-final against Gabon, players and staff boycotted training over unpaid bonuses. The standoff highlighted deeper governance issues within the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The dispute was resolved, and Nigeria beat Gabon 4-1 after extra time, but the distraction may have contributed to their poor performance in the final.
Inconsistent Qualification Campaign
Nigeria’s failure began long before the play-offs. The team struggled to perform without Osimhen, earning just four points from 15 possible when he was injured.
Group C opponents included South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, and Lesotho. Despite being top seeds, Nigeria narrowly reached the play-offs.
Managerial instability worsened the problem. Jose Peseiro left after his contract ended in 2024, despite reaching the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final. Finidi George’s brief spell as manager in June 2024 saw a home draw with South Africa and a loss to Benin, leaving Nigeria with just three points from four matches.
Augustine Eguavoen led the team to the 2025 Afcon, but Eric Chelle, appointed in January, could not deliver a World Cup qualification. While he won four of his first six competitive games, inconsistent results such as a 1-1 draw in South Africa ultimately left Nigeria relying on a last-minute win against Benin to reach the play-offs.
Fans and Analysts React
Supporters criticized Nigeria’s performance on social media, citing poor administration and lack of investment in local football infrastructure. Many players train in European academies, yet local facilities lag behind.
Journalist David Hundeyin wrote, “The way Nigeria runs its football is a metaphor for Nigeria’s internal governance. Success without proper work has become a national expectation.”
Meanwhile, rival African nations, including Ghana, celebrated Nigeria’s disappointment after missing both the Qatar 2022 and 2026 World Cups.
What Lies Ahead
With the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations starting against Tanzania on 23 December, the Super Eagles must refocus quickly.
Supporters see the World Cup failure as a wake-up call. Abiodun Ogunjimi, a member of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, said, “Hopefully Nigeria will come out of this. We’ll go back to the drawing board and fix our problems.”
The NFF will likely review Chelle’s position, as qualifying for the World Cup was the primary goal of his contract. While he has built some cohesion within the squad, further managerial changes could either help or disrupt progress.
The priority for Nigeria now is to establish a long-term plan to return to the World Cup stage in 2030. Strengthening governance, investing in local talent development, and creating stability within the coaching staff are essential steps for the nation’s football revival.