'back To The Drawing Board' For Nigeria After World Cup Qualifying Failure

Nigeria fans are coming to position pinch nan truth nan three-time continental champions will miss successive World Cups aft a disjointed qualifying run which included 2 changes of head and players boycotting training.

A squad boasting talents specified arsenic Victor Osimhen, Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi could not clinch 1 of nan 48 places astatine nan expanded 2026 finals aft being beaten connected penalties by DR Congo successful Africa's play-off last connected Sunday night.

It was astatine nan 1994 finals successful nan United States that Nigeria exploded connected to nan world shot segment by reaching nan past 16 connected their World Cup debut, earlier winning golden astatine nan 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

But nan fifth-ranked broadside successful Africa will not beryllium capable to adhd to that database of achievements erstwhile nan United States hosts nan tourney again adjacent year, on pinch Mexico and Canada.

BBC Sport Africa examines wherever it each went incorrect for nan Super Eagles and nan Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Nigeria grounded to build connected their cleanable commencement against DR Congo aft Frank Onyeka's early onslaught put them ahead, pinch Meschack Elia equalising conscionable aft half an hour.

The Super Eagles hardly threatened aft talisman Osimhen was went disconnected injured astatine half-time.

In nan punishment shootout, Fulham defender Calvin Bassey scooped his effort complete nan barroom for Nigeria and Paris FC's Moses Simon has his spot-kick saved.

Nigeria coach Eric Chelle went arsenic acold arsenic accusing a personnel of nan DR Congo method unit of "voodoo" while his broadside were taking penalties.

While specified allegations person antecedently been raised successful nan African game, they are now uncommon and 1 newsman successful Rabat described nan Malian's comments arsenic "surreal".

Just erstwhile it seemed Nigeria would beryllium afloat focused connected nan play-offs, their preparations were deed by off-field issues.

After arriving successful Morocco, Nigeria players and method unit boycotted training conscionable 2 days earlier their semi-final against Gabon successful a conflict complete unpaid allowances and lucifer bonuses.

Supporters saw it arsenic symptomatic of deeper governance issues successful nan NFF, expressing anger astatine administrative failings and mediocre activity which led to nan boycott.

The rumor was resolved nan pursuing day, centre-back William Troost-Ekong saying nan broadside were "united and focused connected representing Nigeria pinch our maximum".

They did nutrient a beardown capacity to beat Gabon 4-1 aft other time connected Thursday, but were incapable to replicate that showing successful Sunday's final.

Quite simply, Nigeria were not bully capable complete nan people of nan two-year qualification campaign.

Changes successful nan dugout did not thief matters, and statistic show an inability to execute without Osimhen starring nan line, pinch conscionable 4 points taken from a imaginable 15 erstwhile nan Galatasaray striker was retired injured.

Nigeria were drawn alongside South Africa, Benin, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Lesotho successful Group C, and squeezed into nan play-offs contempt being apical seeds.

They drew 1-1 astatine location against Lesotho and played retired a stalemate pinch Zimbabwe nether head Jose Peseiro successful November 2023.

The Portuguese past departed astatine nan extremity of his statement successful March 2024, contempt guiding Nigeria to nan last of nan 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon).

Former Nigeria winger Finidi George took over, but his 2 matches arsenic head successful June past twelvemonth proved damaging to their hopes - a location tie against South Africa and a 2-1 conclusion successful Benin leaving nan Super Eagles pinch conscionable 3 points from 4 games.

The run paused arsenic Augustine Eguavoen oversaw successful qualification for nan 2025 Afcon, pinch Chelle past appointed head successful January and tasked pinch starring nan Nigeria to nan 2026 World Cup.

He won 4 of his first six competitory games - though a last-minute equaliser astatine location to Zimbabwe successful March was a setback and Nigeria showed scant ambition arsenic they settled for a 1-1 tie successful South Africa successful October.

The run did spell down to nan wire, but South Africa secured automatic qualification and Nigeria only booked their play-off spot erstwhile Onyeka scored successful nan 91st infinitesimal of their 4-0 triumph against Benin.

Nigeria fans person been lamenting their exit connected societal media, decrying disjointed performances connected nan transportation and nan failings of nan NFF disconnected it.

Given galore Nigeria players are developed astatine academies successful Europe, a deficiency of finance successful section accommodation has been highlighted.

"The measurement Nigeria runs its shot is simply a metaphor for Nigeria's soul governance arsenic a whole," journalist David Hundeyin wrote connected X.

"It has achieved an outrageous magnitude of occurrence comparative to nan existent activity it has put in, and occurrence without activity has now go a nationalist expectation."

The remainder of Africa, meanwhile, has revelled successful Nigeria's misery - not slightest those aligned to West African rivals Ghana, who hit Nigeria successful a play-off for Qatar 2022 and besides qualified for nan 2026 finals.

With conscionable 36 days until their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations run kicks disconnected against Tanzania connected 23 December, nan Super Eagles must quickly refocus.

"It's a wake-up call", Abiodun Ogunjimi, a personnel of nan Nigeria Football Supporters Club, told BBC Sport Africa.

"Hopefully Nigeria will travel retired of this. We'll spell backmost to nan drafting committee and hole our problems."

The NFF will apt measure Chelle's position, fixed delivering a spot astatine nan World Cup was nan main target successful his contract.

The 48-year-old will beryllium nether much scrutiny fixed he was nan first non-Nigerian African man to beryllium placed successful complaint of nan Super Eagles, though he had started to build a much cohesive broadside pinch an personality successful caller games.

Whether different managerial alteration is constructive successful nan short word remains to beryllium seen, but nan NFF must nutrient a blueprint for nan federation to return to nan World Cup finals successful 2030.