Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has expressed the heartbreak felt by the team following Nigeria’s defeat to DR Congo in the 2026 FIFA World Cup playoff final.

Speaking to British-Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana at Casablanca Airport, Onyeka admitted that the players share the fans’ disappointment.

“We, the players, are hurting, just as much as Nigerians are hurting. Nigerians have every right to be very upset with us,” Onyeka said.
“It is very tough not to go to the next FIFA World Cup. Some of us may not be around in five years, in 2030. It’s painful. But we have an AFCON to play in 34 days, and we need to get ready for that and do better than we did last time.”

The playoff ended 1-1 in regulation time, forcing Nigeria to play a second 120 minutes over three days. The game was ultimately decided by a penalty shootout, in which Nigeria missed three kicks, despite having top penalty takers on the bench, including first-choice William Troost-Ekong.

DR Congo, showing greater determination, even substituted their first-choice goalkeeper and converted four penalties to claim a 4-3 shootout victory.