Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu has urged the NFF to draft a solid plan for the national team, saying that preparations for AFCON must start now after the shock World Cup qualifying exit, Footynaija.com reports.
The call comes in the wake of Nigeria’s dramatic defeat to DR Congo in the playoff final that ended the Super Eagles’ hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup. The tie finished 1–1 after extra time and was settled on penalties with DR Congo winning 4–3.
Things have been tense since the loss. Head coach Éric Chelle made controversial remarks after the match suggesting that members of the DR Congo technical area engaged in rituals during the penalty shootout.
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Fans, journalists and former internationals have voiced frustration with how the campaign unfolded and called for structural changes in the national team setup.
With the Africa Cup of Nations scheduled for December in Morocco and the Super Eagles drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Uganda and Tanzania, attention now turns to how Nigeria will regroup.
What Shorunmu Said
Shorunmu, who once stood between the sticks for Nigeria at major tournaments and later served as a goalkeeping coach in the local league, spoke calmly and focused on clear, practical steps forward.
“I hope the NFF will think ahead of time and come up with a solid plan for the team, starting with the Africa Cup of Nations,” he told Western Post.
“What has happened is gone now, and we have to start thinking of the way forward for Nigerian football. The AFCON is just around the corner, and it is important that we start preparations early and get everything right.”
The former international said the players know how the country feels and will want to make amends at the Nations Cup.
“I am sure the players understand how Nigerians feel now and will want to make amends at the Nations Cup,” he added.
