- The development has sparked concerns about the team’s direction and long-term planning
- Their hopes of returning to the world stage were dashed again in late 2025
- Bonfrere said the team must treat the failure as a lesson rather than dwell on it
Former Super Eagles coach Jo Bonfrere has called on Nigeria’s national team to move past the disappointment of missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup and shift focus toward rebuilding for future competitions.
Nigeria will be absent from the global tournament for the second consecutive time when it kicks off in Canada, Mexico, and the United States, Eko Hot Blog gathered.
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The development has sparked concerns about the team’s direction and long-term planning, especially for a nation regarded as one of Africa’s football powerhouses.
The Super Eagles’ recent struggles date back to their playoff loss to rivals, the Black Stars, which denied them a place at the 2022 tournament in Qatar.
Their hopes of returning to the world stage were dashed again in late 2025, when they were beaten on penalties by the Democratic Republic of the Congo national football team in the African playoff final under coach Éric Chelle.
Reacting to the setback, Bonfrere said the team must treat the failure as a lesson rather than dwell on it. He stressed the need for immediate preparations toward the 2030 and 2034 World Cups, beginning with a strong outing at the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
According to him, Nigeria cannot afford to miss another World Cup, especially with the abundance of talented players competing at top European clubs.
He urged the Nigeria Football Federation to review past mistakes, improve planning, and build a more competitive squad capable of reclaiming its place on the global stage.
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