Our best wasn’t enough, Nwabali laments DR Congo defeat

Stanley Nwabali has expressed his apologies to Nigerians following the Super Eagles' loss in the World Cup playoff, stating that the team "gave everything for the badge" in their quest for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.

Nigeria's aspirations were dashed after a 4–3 defeat in a penalty shootout against DR Congo in the African playoff final, with the match ending in a 1–1 draw after extra time.

The goalkeeper managed to save two penalties during the shootout; however, this was insufficient to offset the missed attempts by Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi.

Chancel Mbemba, the captain of DR Congo, successfully converted the decisive penalty kick, propelling DR Congo into the intercontinental playoffs for the World Cup.

In an Instagram post following the match on Sunday, Nwabali mentioned that he was once a supporter of the Super Eagles and comprehends "how it feels to have a disappointing night."

He further remarked that the team's "best wasn't enough" and that the players "accept full responsibility."