“Painful Exit: Onyeka Opens Up On Team’s Struggle After World Cup Playoff Loss”

According to Ireporter Online, Super Eagles midfielder Frank Onyeka has revealed the emotional toll on the team following Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The squad’s heartbreak mirrors the disappointment felt by millions of Nigerians after their loss to DR Congo in Sunday’s playoff final.

Spotted at Casablanca Airport, Onyeka spoke candidly about the team’s struggle to come to terms with the defeat. “We, the players, are hurting just as much as Nigerians are hurting. Nigerians have every right to be very upset with us,” he said.

The Brentford star emphasized that for many players, this was a rare opportunity to compete on the world stage, making the setback particularly difficult. “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,” Onyeka added.

Despite the disappointment, Onyeka stressed the importance of moving forward, noting that the African Cup of Nations is just over a month away. “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,” he said.

Nigeria’s heartbreaking exit came after a 1-1 draw in regulation time, followed by an exhausting 120-minute match that went to penalties. Despite having reliable penalty takers on the bench, including William Troost-Ekong, Nigeria missed three crucial spot kicks. DR Congo capitalized on the opportunity, converting four penalties to secure a 4-3 shootout victory.