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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has applauded the Super Eagles for their determined efforts in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers, despite their heartbreaking loss to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) in the playoff on Sunday night.
The dramatic encounter, which took place in Morocco, ended 1-1 after extra time, but Nigeria lost 4-3 in the subsequent penalty shootout. This defeat dashed the nation’s hopes of qualifying for the World Cup for the second consecutive tournament.
In a statement signed by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the President urged the team and all stakeholders to accept the setback constructively and redirect their focus to the upcoming African Cup of Nations, scheduled for January to February 2026 in Morocco.
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President Tinubu said: “Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them. 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.”
While the loss was painful, President Tinubu emphasised the need for unity and renewed commitment from everyone involved in Nigerian football to restore the nation’s position at the continental level.
