Nigeria's World Cup Dream Shattered, Majority of Eagles Affected
The disappointment from Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup extends beyond heartbroken fans to the players themselves, with a staggering 70 per cent of the current Super Eagles squad likely never to feature in football's biggest tournament before retiring.
Following their painful 4-3 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo on Sunday, November 17, 2025, only four players in the current setup - William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, Wilfred Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho - have World Cup experience. Most of their teammates may never get this opportunity due to age and other career variables by the time the 2030 edition arrives.
Controversy and Blame Game After Crushing Defeat
Super Eagles' Coach Eric Chelle created drama after the match by storming toward the Congolese technical area and accusing the East Africans of employing "voodoo" rituals during the penalty shootout. The 48-year-old Malian specifically mentioned "maraboutage," a term referring to spiritual or supernatural practices in African football.
The match had ended 1-1 in regular time, with higher-ranked Nigeria expected to beat DR Congo to qualify for the inter-continental playoff. Instead, the Leopards outclassed the Super Eagles, securing Africa's playoff ticket and joining New Caledonia and Bolivia as qualified teams for the inter-continental playoff scheduled for Mexico in March 2026.
Internal Problems and Poor Preparation
Another significant factor in Nigeria's failure was the players' decision to embark on a one-day strike upon arrival in Morocco. This industrial action meant the team had only one day to prepare for their opening game against Gabon, which they won 4-1 after extra time despite the disruption.
According to reports from soccernet.ng citing ex-BBC correspondent Osasu Obayiuwana, players knew the Federal Government had provided the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with funds to settle over $130,000 in outstanding bonuses from World Cup qualifying wins over Lesotho and Benin.
The strike was only called off following intervention from the National Sports Commission (NSC), which claimed it had given the NFF N1 billion to settle player payments. However, observers noted that by then the damage to team preparation had already been done.
This poor preparation showed clearly during the DR Congo match, where Nigerian players appeared lethargic and exhausted in the second half, ultimately costing them the crucial victory.
Contrasting Fortunes for Both Nations
While Nigerian players struggled with payment issues, reports from East Africa indicated that each member of the victorious Congolese squad would receive a $1 million bonus from their government for defeating Nigeria. This incentive, reportedly payable through Rawbank regardless of whether DR Congo ultimately qualifies for the 2026 World Cup, provided massive motivation for the Leopards.
Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi personally congratulated the team, describing their victory as "historic" and urging the nation to rally behind them ahead of the intercontinental playoffs. He organized a celebratory carnival at the Martyrs Stadium and welcomed the players personally, emphasizing that reaching the 2026 World Cup would send "a message of hope for Congolese youth."
Meanwhile, the final two teams for the inter-continental playoffs will be determined when Iraq and the United Arab Emirates complete their playoff, with Costa Rica and Curaçao currently occupying CONCACAF's two playoff slots.
For Nigeria's Super Eagles, the dream is over, and for the majority of the current squad, the opportunity to play on world football's biggest stage may never come again.
