Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi says Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has not dampened the squad's spirit. He insists the players are still eager to show their skills 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 painfully 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 strong start in the third minute, but Meschack Elia equalized for DR Congo in the 32nd minute. Neither side could score again during extra time. In the penalty shootout, Calvin Bassey missed Nigeria's first kick, Moses Simon also failed to score, and Semi Ajayi's miss in sudden death proved costly as DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba stepped up to score the winning penalty.
This was the second straight World Cup Nigeria failed to qualify for, and the way they exited, on penalties with the tournament within reach, made it even harder to accept. The Super Eagles did not get to that point easily. They faced a tough semi-final against Gabon, needing extra time to win 4-1. Victor Osimhen scored twice late on after Mario Lemina had equalized in the 89th minute.
The final felt like a step too far, especially with Osimhen going off injured early in the second half against DR Congo. This left Nigeria to fight without their key player at a critical moment. The pain from that loss still lingers, but Ndidi believes the squad has turned that hurt into motivation.
Since then, the Eagles have used the international break to boost morale and strengthen their teamwork under head coach Eric Chelle. They are in good shape after winning the Unity Cup last Saturday with a strong 3-0 victory over Jamaica at The Valley in London. They showed great attacking play and solid defense to beat the Reggae Boyz.
Nigeria remains the only country to have won the Unity Cup since it started, now holding four titles. With the friendly against Poland behind them, the focus now shifts to Portugal. Chelle will use this match to continue evaluating his squad as they prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
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