If I were Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau | AT THIS TIME

*Nigeria’s Super Eagles has recently crashed out of the race for the 2026 FIFA World Cup*

My Speech to Nigerians as NFF President

By Solomon Etuk

"My fellow Nigerians,

At this time, our hearts are heavy. We dreamed together, we prayed together, and we believed together. Yet, the Super Eagles have fallen short in their quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The loss to DR Congo on penalties is painful, and I know the sting of disappointment runs deep in every home, every street, and every heart across this nation.

But let me remind you: defeat does not define us. Nigeria is a land of resilience, a people of courage, and a nation that rises stronger each time we stumble.

The Super Eagles may have missed this flight to the World Cup, but they have not lost their wings. They will soar again.

To our players, I say this: you carried the hopes of over 200 million Nigerians. You fought with pride, you gave your sweat, and though the result was cruel, you remain our heroes.

Victor Osimhen, Stanley Nwabali, Frank Onyeka, and every man who wore the green and white, you are not defined by this loss, but by the courage you showed in battle.

To our fans, I say: do not let despair take root. Let this pain fuel our passion. Let this setback ignite our determination.

The Africa Cup of Nations awaits, and together we will march into that tournament with renewed fire.

We will rebuild. We will invest in our youth. We will strengthen our football structures. And we will ensure that the next generation of Super Eagles is ready to reclaim our place on the world stage.

Nigeria, this is not the end of our story. It is the beginning of a new chapter. A chapter where we rise from disappointment, where we turn heartbreak into hope, and where we prove once again that the spirit of the Super Eagles cannot be broken.

So lift your heads high, my people. The world may not see us in 2026, but they will hear us roar in the years to come. For we are Nigeria. We are strong. We are united. And we will soar again.

Together, we rise. Together, we soar. Together, we remain the Super Eagles.

Thank you, and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and bless also the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)"