Troost-Ekong Hopes Super Eagles’ Young Stars Will Bounce Back After World Cup Setback

Super Eagles defender William Troost-Ekong remains hopeful that the younger players in the national team will turn the disappointment of missing the 2026 World Cup into a valuable learning experience for future tournaments.

The 32-year-old and his teammates fell 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo in the African play-off final in Rabat, Morocco, on Sunday. Despite taking the lead, Nigeria endured a grueling 120 minutes at the Prince Moulay El Hassan Stadium before succumbing to defeat.

The loss marks Nigeria’s second consecutive World Cup miss, following their failure to qualify in 2022. Troost-Ekong, signaling the end of his international career, stressed the importance of the younger squad gaining experience from such moments.

“I think the boys stepped up. And it happens. I think they will learn so much from this moment, and I’m sure when the next moment comes, they will be better prepared and hopefully that will be a chance to make a difference,” Troost-Ekong told Pooja Media.

Since their debut in 1994, the Super Eagles have qualified for six World Cups (1994, 1998, 2010, 2014, 2018, and 2022), reaching the round of 16 on three occasions. They have failed to qualify for the 2006, 2022, and now 2026 editions.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expressed deep regret over the setback. “The Nigeria Football Federation wishes to openly and sincerely apologise to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to the Federal Government, and to millions of Nigerians, especially our loyal football fans, following the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals,” the NFF said in a statement.

The statement continued: “The NFF, the technical crew, and the players understand the gravity of this moment. We recognise the passion and sacrifice of a country that has always stood firmly behind its team, through triumphs and trials. Our collective effort did not deliver the outcome this nation deserved.”

Troost-Ekong and the Super Eagles will regroup in less than a month for the 2025 AFCON, scheduled from December 21 to January 19, 2026.