Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu has challenged Nigeria’s players to use the disappointment of missing the 2026 FIFA World Cup as fuel to ensure the country returns stronger in the next qualification campaign.
The former international believes spending the summer watching fellow professionals compete on football’s biggest stage should serve as a painful reminder of what the Super Eagles missed after failing to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup.
Nigeria’s absence from the expanded tournament has continued to dominate discussions among former players and football stakeholders, with many calling for lessons to be learned ahead of the road to the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
“Watching the World Cup should hurt the players because they know they belong on that stage. That disappointment should motivate them to work even harder,” Shorunmu said.
The former FC Zürich goalkeeper urged the current generation of Super Eagles stars to respond positively by maintaining high standards at club level and carrying that form into the national team whenever they are called upon.
According to Shorunmu, consistency and commitment will be vital if Nigeria is to avoid another disappointing qualification campaign.
