Super Eagles midfielder, Frank Onyeka has said that the players are hurting over the missed opportunity to play in the next FIFA World Cup.
This was following the team’s defeat to DR Congo in the World Cup playoff final on Sunday and the Brentford midfielder admitted the players are ‘hurting’ just as deeply as the fans.
British-Nigerian journalist Osasu Obayiuwana met with the midfielder at Casablanca Airport and shared his reaction to the defeat on X.
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.”
It ended 1-1 in regulation time and Nigeria played a second 120 minutes in three days before the game was decided by shootout.
Nigeria, who had some of their best penalty takers on the bench, including first-choice taker, William Troost-Ekong, missed three kicks.
DR Congo, who showed more seriousness to win the game, even substituting their first-choice goalkeeper, converted four to claim a 4-3 shootout victory.