Olopade salutes Eagles despite World Cup miss

National Sports Commission Director General Bukola Olopade says Nigeria must “move on” from the disappointment of missing out on the 2026 World Cup, insisting that the focus must shift quickly to rebuilding and preparing for the Africa Cup of Nations, The PUNCH reports.

Nigeria’s elimination in Rabat on Sunday ended the Super Eagles’ road to the tournament after a 4–3 penalty shootout defeat to DR Congo.

The result revived debate about the Nigeria Football Federation’s leadership, but Olopade urged restraint when speaking to journalists after the match.

He explained that apportioning blame at this stage would not help the team recover from the setback. While responding to questions about whether the failure was an indictment on the NFF, he said the priority must be reflection rather than recrimination.

He said, “This is not the time to start talking about who did what and who did not do what.”

We have lost the possibility of going to the World Cup. We need to go back, sit down, and recalibrate.”

Olopade acknowledged the deep sadness among Nigerians, noting that even he was affected by the result. But he urged the country to rise from the disappointment and look ahead.

“We need to allow ourselves a moment to feel sad, hold on to our pillows, but tomorrow we must wake up and remember that we are Nigerians. We must move on and push forward to create a feel-good factor for our people during the Christmas period and the new year.

“I have spoken to all the players and all the coaching staff. I’ve thanked them because these are heroes. At this time, we cannot turn our backs and fail to recognise that they are heroes,” he said.

He revealed that he also met the younger players to highlight the challenges ahead and remind them that the next phase of their journey begins soon, with the Africa Cup of Nations on the horizon.

“We all must recalibrate, come together, and prepare for future challenges. The next immediate battle is the Africa Cup of Nations,” he said.

He dismissed criticisms circulating on social media, insisting that public pressure would not deter him from performing his duties. Olopade added that misconceptions about the roles of the NSC and the NFF have contributed to the backlash.

“People will talk. The other day, you interviewed me and people called me names. Many people do not know the difference between the NSC and the NFF. That’s the problem. But it’s okay. It is what it is. It has happened. We move on.”

Nigeria’s exit came after a dramatic evening in Rabat. Frank Onyeka gave the Super Eagles the lead in the third minute, but Elia Meschack equalised before half-time. The match went into extra time and then penalties, where misses by Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi proved costly.

The defeat compounded weeks of turbulence off the pitch, including a training boycott in Morocco over unpaid allowances and bonuses in the days leading up to the semi-final against Gabon. Though the issue was resolved, it reignited wider concerns about governance and player welfare.

The NFF has since issued a public apology to the President, the Federal Government and Nigerians, calling the defeat “a moment of profound sadness for Nigerian football”. The Federation said it understood the weight of national disappointment and emphasised that the focus now shifts to restoring pride at the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco next year.

Olopade echoed that sentiment, urging unity as the country turns toward the next challenge.