President Tinubu's Charge to Super Eagles
President Bola Tinubu has delivered a strong message to Nigeria's national football team, the Super Eagles, urging them to reclaim their former greatness by winning the 2025 African Cup of Nations in Morocco. The presidential charge came through a statement issued on Monday by Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information & Strategy.
This motivational push follows the Super Eagles' heartbreaking elimination from the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification race. Despite their best efforts, the team fell to the Democratic Republic of Congo in a dramatic playoff match held in Morocco on Sunday night.
World Cup Dreams Dashed in Penalty Drama
Nigeria's hopes of appearing at the global football spectacle were crushed when DR Congo eliminated the Super Eagles in a tense qualifier playoff. The match concluded with a 1-1 draw after extra time, forcing the decision to penalties where DR Congo emerged victorious with a 4-3 score.
This defeat marks the second consecutive time the Super Eagles have failed to qualify for the World Cup tournament. The victory keeps DR Congo's World Cup aspirations alive as they advance to the Inter-Confederation play-off.
President Tinubu acknowledged the pain of this loss but emphasized the importance of recognizing the team's efforts. "Notwithstanding the unfortunate loss, we must commend the players for their efforts and continue to support them," the President stated through his adviser.
Road to AFCON Redemption
The President has directed the team to immediately shift their focus to the upcoming African Cup of Nations, scheduled to run from December 2025 to January 2026 in Morocco. Tinubu stressed the need for comprehensive evaluation and preparation, stating: "We must now plug all the loopholes. Our football administrators, players, and indeed all stakeholders must go back to the drawing board."
He added with determination: "Now is the time to focus all efforts on the Cup of Nations. Our Super Eagles must recover the lost glory."
The three-time African champions face a challenging path in Group C, where they will compete against the Taifa Stars of Tanzania, the Cranes of Uganda, and the Carthage Eagles of Tunisia.
Nigeria's AFCON history includes triumphant victories in 1980, 1994, and their most recent win in 2013 under late coach Stephen Keshi, who had also captained the team to victory in 1994. The 1980 victory saw the team, then known as the Green Eagles, defeat Algeria 3-0 in the final at Lagos's National Stadium in Surulere.
