Eagles stay strong after World Cup disappointment, Ndidi

Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi says the team has not lost its spirit after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He insists the players are still eager to show what they can do on the international stage.

"Every footballer dreams of representing their country at the World Cup," the midfielder said.

"We didn’t achieve it, but that doesn’t mean we arrived in Warsaw demotivated. On the contrary, we want to show our best side and bring some joy to our fans."

Nigeria's journey to the World Cup ended in a tough way in Rabat last November. The Super Eagles drew 1-1 with DR Congo after 120 minutes of play but lost 4-3 on penalties in the CAF playoff final at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay El Hassan.

Frank Onyeka gave Nigeria a great start in the third minute, but Meschack Elia equalized for DR Congo in the 32nd minute. Neither team scored in extra time. During the penalty shootout, Calvin Bassey missed Nigeria’s first kick, Moses Simon also missed, and Semi Ajayi’s miss in sudden death was the final blow as DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba scored the winning penalty.

This was the second World Cup in a row that Nigeria did not qualify for. Losing on penalties, with the tournament so close, made it even harder to take.

The Super Eagles had a tough path to the final. They faced a scare in the semi-final against Gabon, needing extra time to win 4-1. Victor Osimhen scored two late goals after Mario Lemina equalized in the 89th minute.

The final felt like too much to handle, especially since Osimhen got injured early in the second half against DR Congo. Nigeria had to fight without their star player at the most important time.

That pain has not gone away, but Ndidi says the squad has turned it into something positive. The Eagles have used the international window to boost their morale and improve their teamwork under head coach Eric Chelle. They arrived in good form.

Nigeria won the Unity Cup last Saturday with a strong 3-0 victory over Jamaica at The Valley in London. They showed both attacking skill and solid defense to defeat the Reggae Boyz.

Nigeria is still the only country to have won the Unity Cup since it started, now holding four titles.

With the friendly match in Poland done, the focus now shifts to Portugal. Coach Chelle will use this match to keep evaluating his team as they prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.