In the aftermath, Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali addressed the nation with a heartfelt apology.
On his official Instagram page, he wrote: “Painful! We all did our best for the badge, though our best wasn’t enough. I was once a fan and understand how it feels to give you a disappointing night; we take full responsibility.”
Nwabali also made two crucial saves during the shootout, but they could not compensate for missed penalties from his teammates.
The defeat marks a bitter milestone: Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the second consecutive time, having also failed to qualify for the 2022 edition.
Ezinwanne Onwuka, senior staff reporter and columnist with WAP is a Nigerian-based writer and content developer. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the prestigious University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Her interests include reading, writing, researching and graphic designing.
Latest posts by By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter) (see all)
- Nwabali: “We Did Our Best for the Badge” - November 17, 2025
- Penalty Misses Cost Nigeria 2026 World Cup Spot - November 17, 2025
- Pope Names Nigeria Among Countries Where Christians Face Persecution - November 17, 2025