Stanley Nwabali said the Super Eagles “did our best for the badge” throughout their campaign to secure a place at the 2026 World Cup.
Nigeria fell short after losing 4-3 on penalties to DR Congo in the African playoffs, with the game ending 1-1 after extra time.
Nwabali saved two penalties during the shootout, but misses by Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon, and Semi Ajayi proved costly.
Chancel Mbemba converted the decisive spot-kick to send DR Congo into the intercontinental playoffs.
In an Instagram post after the match, Nwabali noted that he was once a fan himself and understands “how it feels giving you a disappointing night”.
He said the team’s “best wasn’t enough” and acknowledged that the players “take full responsibility”.
“Painful! We all did our best for the badge, though our best wasn’t enough,” he wrote.
The Super Eagles have now missed two consecutive World Cups, the first time since their debut appearance in 1994.
Their buildup to the playoffs was not without controversy, as the squad boycotted a training session over unpaid allowances, resuming only after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) met their demands 24 hours later.