Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has opened up about the pain within the squad following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the next FIFA World Cup, describing the disappointment as just as intense for the players as it is for the fans.
Nigeria fell to DR Congo in the World Cup playoff final on Sunday, a result that ended the nation’s hopes of returning to football’s biggest stage. Speaking at Casablanca Airport after the defeat, the Brentford midfielder told British-Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana that the team fully understands the nation’s frustration.
“We, the players, are hurting just as much as Nigerians are hurting. Nigerians have every right to be very upset with us,” Onyeka said. “It is very tough not to go to the next FIFA World Cup. Some of us may not even be around in five years, in 2030. It’s painful.”
Despite the heartbreak, Onyeka stressed the need to regroup ahead of the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations, which kicks off in just over a month.
“We have an AFCON to play in 34 days and we need to get ready for that and do better than we did last time,” he added.
The playoff final ended 1–1 after regulation time, pushing Nigeria into another 120-minute battle just three days after their previous extra-time outing. The match eventually went to penalties, where Nigeria missed three attempts — a costly setback made worse by the fact that several dependable penalty takers, including first-choice shooter William Troost-Ekong, remained on the bench.
DR Congo, who showed strong intent by even substituting their first-choice goalkeeper for the shootout, converted four spot-kicks to seal a 4–3 victory and secure their World Cup ticket.
The Super Eagles now turn their focus to AFCON as the team seeks redemption and a chance to restore confidence among Nigerian supporters.
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