Super Eagles captain Wilfred Ndidi says Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup has not dampened the team's spirit. He insists the players are still eager to show what they can do on the international stage, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
“Every footballer dreams of representing their country at the World Cup,” the midfielder stated.
“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 great start in the third minute, but Meschack Elia equalized for DR Congo in the 32nd minute. Both teams could not find a winner through extra time. In the shootout, Calvin Bassey missed Nigeria’s first kick, Moses Simon also failed to convert, and Semi Ajayi’s miss in sudden death proved to be the final blow as DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba scored the winning penalty.
This was the second World Cup in a row that Nigeria failed to qualify for. Losing on penalties, especially when the tournament seemed within reach, made it even harder to take.
Getting to this point was not easy for the Super Eagles. They faced a tough semi-final against Gabon, needing extra time to win 4-1. Victor Osimhen scored twice late in the game after Mario Lemina had equalized in the 89th minute of regulation.
The final felt like a big challenge. Osimhen went off injured early in the second half against DR Congo, leaving Nigeria to fight without their star player at a crucial moment.
That pain has not gone away, but Ndidi says the team has turned it into something positive. The Eagles have since used the international window to boost their morale and improve teamwork under head coach Eric Chelle. They arrived in good shape for their next matches.
Nigeria won the Unity Cup last Saturday with a strong 3-0 win over Jamaica at The Valley in London. They showed both attacking flair and solid defense to beat the Reggae Boyz.
Nigeria remains the only country to have won the Unity Cup since it started. They now hold four titles.
With the friendly against Poland behind them, the focus now shifts to Portugal. Coach Chelle will use this match to continue evaluating his squad as they prepare for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Drop your comment
No comments yet — be the first to drop the gist 👇