‘Worst Eagles team ever’ — reactions trail Nigeria’s failure to qualify for consecutive World Cups

The Super Eagles of Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the World Cup for the second consecutive time has elicited a flurry of reactions on social media.

On Sunday, Nigeria lost to DR Congo on penalties in the African playoffs final for the 2026 World Cup.

Despite the Eagles initially taking an early lead through Frank Onyeka’s long-range deflected shot in the third minute, Mechak Elia would equalise for the Leopards in the 32nd minute. The match finished 1-1 after extra time.

Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi all missed their penalties during the shootouts, and Chancel Mbemba scored the winning kick for the Congolese to send them into the intercontinental playoffs.

The Super Eagles also missed out on the 2022 World Cup. It is the first time Nigeria have failed to qualify for two consecutive World Cups since the country’s debut in 1994.

Reacting to the latest failure to qualify for the World Cup, some Nigerians on X expressed their disappointment in the Eagles and, by extension, in Nigerian football.

An X user, @MillieBadboi, described the team as “the worst Super Eagles ever”. 

Series Baj, another X user, said the Super Eagles “tortured” Nigeria throughout their match against DR Congo.

“That’s not a game of football. The Super Eagles tortured Nigerians for 3 hours,” the tweet reads.

Latunji, another X user, claimed the only Victor Osimhen is “super” among the current crop of Eagles, adding that other players “are ordinary”.

“So, apparently, in the Nigerian team, Osimhen is the super, while the rest are ordinary eagles,” the tweet reads.

More comments below: 

The Super eagles have a bad coach, with an extremely bad selection of players. Some of those players can't perform efficiently anymore due to age. Why call them back to the team every time.

— Samuel Dauda (@samydauda) November 17, 2025

So, apparently, in the Nigerian team, Osimhen is the super, while the rest are ordinary eagles.

— Latunji (@lafile) November 17, 2025

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Super eagles is too useless. This current crop is the worst. Disband that team, restructure and rebuild. Most of them have overstayed their welcome

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— Tekkey (@youngtekkey) November 16, 2025

That’s not a game of football. The Super Eagles tortured Nigerians for 3 hours.

— Series ‘Baj (@Engr_Series) November 16, 2025

Super Eagles pic.twitter.com/xRwPdrsAoj

— Troll Football (@TrollFootball) November 16, 2025

I am really surprised to see Super Eagles players in tears after the game? So World Cup qualification mattered this much to them? Interesting discovery. On the bright side, they got what they focused on immediately they arrived Morocco. All is well that ends well.

— Babanla (@biolakazeem) November 16, 2025

At the end of the day, we all fall to the level of our system. That's the lesson to take away from this Super Eagles’ World Cup qualifying campaign.

If we don't start now to invest in our football, we will be back here in four years.

— Arinze Odira (@CaptainArinze) November 16, 2025