There’s no joy in the land this morning after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as angry Nigerian fans are now blaming George Finidi for everything, Softfootball reports.
Nigeria lost 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo during the play-off final in Morocco after the game ended 1-1. DR Congo captain Chancel Mbemba, who scored a last-minute winner against Cameroon in the semi-final of the play-off was on hand to score the winning penalty for Leopards to eliminate Nigeria in the final.
The Super Eagles were overwhelming favourites to qualify and 19 places above DR Congo in the FIFA ranking but lost on the crucial night which left fans disappointed after the match in Rabat. The Central Africans will now represent Africa in the final intercontinental qualifier which will be held next March in Mexico.
It was indeed a sad defeat for Nigeria with all the expectations, having qualified for six of the last eight FIFA World Cups, missing only the 2006 and 2022 editions., Sunday night’s loss means that the Super Eagles will miss consecutive World Cups for the first time since 1990. On its official X handle, they shared:
Together we stand strong pic.twitter.com/kwxBciudQe
— 🇳🇬 Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) November 16, 2025Some fans were logical about their response to the Super Eagles failure to qualify while majority poured out their anger on former manager, George Finidi, who was one of the coaches involved during the two-year qualifier for Nigeria, the others are Jose Peseiro and now Eric Chelle.
Finidi replace Jose Peseiro, who had started the qualifiers with two draws on April 29, 2024 and lead Nigeria to a draw against South Africa at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo before losing 2-1 to Benin Republic, leaving Nigeria with just three points from four matches in the World Cup qualifier.
However, his tenure was marred by a huge rift with Super Eagles star man, Victor Osimhen before his contract was terminated and Eric Chelle stepped in for a rescue job that collapsed at the play-off final against DR Congo. Nigerian fans naturally love Osimhen and it was the Galatasaray striker that got a brace in the 4-1 win over Gabon to set-up a final with the Leopards. Unfortunately, he got injured after the first 45 minutes and couldn’t continue and that showed as the Eagles lacked bite in attack.
A logical Super Eagles fan, @ajee_vibes shared his thoughts after the match. He said:
My take aways from the Nigeria WCQ play-off final match:
*Nigeria should start scouting for another GK to build with because Nwabali is now a huge liability with costly mistakes in more than one occasions in every match.
*Fredrick is the future and is ready to make the step up and become a presence in our backline.
*Chukwueze is inconsistent.
*Lookman no longer performs for Nigeria, we can’t keep making him a sure starter.
*Moses Simon has lost his dribbling which is the only great thing in his game.
*Nigeria is 💯 reliant on Victor Osimhen.
*Èric Chelle did a very good job and should keep his job, many of us never had faith in him.
@YaseerikoAdam was not having the stand together talk by the Super Eagles with a weird reply.
Stand strong together with players like this Tolu guy? Abeg go rest pic.twitter.com/heI95zgEEC
— Yasir Adam (@YaseerikoAdam) November 16, 2025While another fan, @sogotomiwa said:
The last time Nigeria qualified to the World Cup:
– Lamine Yamal was in primary school
– Messi was still at Barça
– Ancelotti was the coach for Everton
– Messi had 0 international trophies
-Haaland, Sancho and Bellingham were teammates.
-Lewandowski was still at Bayern
The conversation at this point switched completely to George Finidi. As the fans really let go at the Rivers United Coach without holding anything back.
@anointingfire89 said:
Finidi George caused this ,if he had won one game ,we would have topped the table and qualified ..,Eric Chelle tried oooo…
NFF and Finidi George,,,You did this again.. any coach with this kind of head no too dey Sabi coach example , Slot, Ten hagg
@HeisMaxwellfr asked:
Someone send me Finidi George house address abeg
I just wan follow am talk pic.twitter.com/33GwIuwKNa
— Seven (@HeisMaxwellfr) November 16, 2025@Eazy2077 extended his anger towards the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and former Super Eagles Coaches Finidi and Jose Peseiro. He said:
All of them in the NFF should just resign, but greediness won’t allow them
Bunch of incompetent people
From Pesseiro to Finidi George shame on all of you
The only thing giving us joy in this country you guys have taken it away
You lots are shameless @thenff @NGSuperEagles
@Ezigbo_mmadu shared an old clip of George Finidi talking about tactics and said that was where Super Eagles problem started from.
This was where our World Cup Qualification problem started with Finidi George. https://t.co/CbuDUNrbND
— God's Work (@Ezigbo_mmadu) November 16, 2025@the_realtomy on his part said:
If Nigeria was a serious country DSS for don pick Finidi George by now, werey no fit win single game dey there dey look for respect pic.twitter.com/Zdd1cZnxtV
— TommyCFC💙 (@the_realtomy) November 17, 2025@Omahh_11 added:
Good morning Nigerians
Now that the Super Eagles have been eliminated from the 2026 World Cup.
Just a reminder this is the match that put Nigeria into all this playoff
shenanigans…
Finidi George failed us how when we lost to Benin Republic 😇 we would be first on the group if not for that game
@bronze_voice blamed the NFF for appointing Finidi to manage the Super Eagles. He said:
NFF really did Nigerians dirty by appointing Finidi George, not pointing fingers but it’s still important to point it out 😩😂
From Real Betis academy to Enyimba FC, then boom.. head coach of the Super Eagles 😂.
No standard at all…. May God help us
After missing out for the 2026 World Cup in North America, the Super Eagles of Nigeria will try qualify for the 2030 Mundial to be hosted by Morocco, Portugal and Spain.
