Nigeria’s World Cup dream ended in painful fashion on Sunday night as the Super Eagles crashed out on penalties to DR Congo in Morocco, a defeat that triggered an explosive reaction across the football community. Among the loudest voices was Nigerian activist VeryDarkMan (VDM), who delivered a scathing verdict on the team’s mentality and performance.
Before unleashing his now-viral rant, fans had been hopeful that the Super Eagles would finally stamp their ticket to the Intercontinental Playoffs. Instead, after a tense 1–1 draw in regulation time and a chaotic penalty shootout, Nigeria fell short once again, extending what many now call a disastrous qualifying campaign.
Reacting immediately via a video on his Instagram handle, VDM held nothing back, stating:
There is no passion, there is no fighting spirit. Normally in football, if you miss two penalties and you get it back, it’s the other team that should be under pressure — but there is no charisma, no zeal, no desire to win. Nothing.
Watch the video below:
His outburst struck a nerve, rapidly spreading across social platforms as fans echoed similar frustrations about the Super Eagles’ attitude, technical decisions, and overall decline.
The comment section under VDM’s Instagram post quickly turned into a venting ground for heartbroken supporters:
@Godwin said:
This is national tears.
Leo Micky One explictly stated:
Let’s be honest, Congo deserves this win.
Evans claims not to be suprised saying;
Im not even surprised. How can a team with past and current African best players struggle to qualify for a World Cup of 11 African teams? It’s shameful and shows how bad the nation is.
DavePlayBloggers said the team cant function without their star striker,he said;
No Osimhen, no Super Eagles.
Softfootball earlier reported that Nigerian fans were outraged after Victor Osimhen was substituted at halftime during the decisive match. Many demanded an explanation from the coaching staff, questioning why the team’s most influential forward was removed in such a crucial fixture.
Videos and comments showed supporters insisting that Osimhen’s presence could have changed the outcome — especially considering the Super Eagles’ lack of attacking sharpness after the break.
In addition, Softfootball noted that several fans revisited Nigeria’s disastrous start to the qualifying series under former coach Finidi George, who went winless in his first three games. Supporters argued that the early slip in form ultimately left Nigeria with too much ground to recover, paving the way for the painful playoff collapse.
Nigeria’s elimination has triggered deep reflection among fans, with many calling for accountability and a total rebuild of the team’s mentality. From the controversial Osimhen substitution to the long shadow of Finidi George’s poor qualifying start, the Super Eagles exit has reopened old wounds and VDM’s explosive reaction has captured exactly how millions of Nigerians feel.
