Nigeria was kicked out of the World Cup because of its own disarray.

Nigeria says goodbye to the 2026 World Cup.

But the failure did not come only from the penalty shootout. It stemmed from months of simmering turmoil, from players skipping practice because they had not received their bonuses to the chaotic image of the coaching staff after the match.

Where is Nigerian spirit?

Nigeria entered the playoff final with a heavy burden on its shoulders. This was not a World Cup group stage match or a major tournament knockout match. This was a do-or-die match for Africa’s last ticket to the 2026 World Cup. Just one match. Just one chance. But Nigeria did not enter the match with the composure of a team that was ready.

In the days leading up to the match, Nigeria was in turmoil. The players had skipped training to protest unpaid bonuses from previous tournaments. They were upset. They wanted transparency. They wanted fair treatment. But the federation did not resolve the matter. The atmosphere within the team was tense. Concentration was broken. A team with such cracks could not be fully prepared for the most important match of the qualifying round.

And it shows on the field.

Nigeria controlled the ball but failed to create any breakthroughs. They lacked speed in their attacks. Their combinations lacked cohesion. The strikers lacked confidence in the penalty area.

The game plodded along, as if Nigeria’s legs were weighed down by the chaos off the pitch. Congo played with clarity. They defended with organisation. They waited for their moment. They were unaffected by the pressure.

Victor Osimhen could not save the Nigerian team.

Congo dragged Nigeria into exactly the scenario they wanted: dragging the match to penalties.

In the fateful penalty shootout, Congo was calm. Nigeria was tense. Chancel Mbemba stepped up to take the decisive kick. The ball went into the net. Congo continued the race for tickets to the US, Canada, Mexico. Nigeria collapsed right at the door.

It's painful. But also very obvious.

There is no magic here

Immediately after Mbemba successfully executed the kick, the image of coach Eric Chelle rushing towards the Congo coaching staff caused a stir. He confronted his opponent, talked about “voodoo”, and accused the Congolese players of performing magic spells during the shootout.

The coach repeated that in a press conference. But those words do not explain anything. They only highlight Nigeria’s loss of control at the moment of defeat.

There is no magic that can defeat a well-prepared team. There is no magic that can stop a team with belief and unity. Nigeria lost because of themselves.

They lost because of disorganization. They lost because of lack of belief in the crucial moments. They lost because of tensions that extended from the locker room to the training ground. The skipping of practice before the playoffs was not an accident. It was a sign of a team that was no longer stable.

Nigeria’s personnel are not bad. They have a number of European-class players, like Victor Osimhen. But no team is strong when players are more concerned about bonuses than tactics. No team is successful when they go into a play-off final frustrated.

Victor Osimhen to miss 2026 World Cup.

Congo is not stronger than Nigeria in terms of personnel. But they are stronger mentally. They have concentration. They have discipline. They know what to do in the battle for survival. Nigeria does not.

This defeat was not a sudden shock. It was the result of a long process of decline. From CAN 2024 to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria lacked stability in their playing style. They changed coaches many times. They could not build a sustainable framework. When the crisis occurred, they did not have enough unity to overcome it.

Congo moves on with cohesion. Nigeria stays home with disarray.

The fans of the “Super Eagles” have the right to be angry. They are not just angry because of the defeat. They are angry because the team lost in a way that they did not deserve to lose. They are angry because the team lost themselves before entering the decisive match. The play-off final is not the World Cup final. But it is the only door leading to the World Cup. Nigeria closed that door.

Now is the time for them to face the truth. They cannot continue to rush forward with the same cracks. They need change from the foundation. From the training environment. From the internal organization. From the way the Federation respects the players. From the seriousness in every stage of preparation.

Nigeria fell to Congo. But their hope is only lost when they no longer dare to change. And if they do not change today, they will witness many similar failures in the next journeys.

Source: https://znews.vn/nigeria-bi-da-vang-khoi-world-cup-vi-chinh-su-be-rac-post1603430.html