Former Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu has urged the Nigeria Football Federation to begin early planning for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the national team’s failure to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Nigeria were eliminated from the Africa World Cup play-off after a 4–3 penalty defeat to the DR Congo, a match that ended 1–1 after extra time. The result confirmed the country’s absence from successive World Cups, following their failure to reach Qatar in 2022.

Shorunmu urged the NFF to take decisive steps to strengthen the national team’s structure and rebuild confidence. He said it was important for officials to shift their attention to the forthcoming continental challenge.

“I hope the NFF will think ahead of time and come up with a solid plan for the team, starting with the Africa Cup of Nations,” Shorunmu told Footy-Africa.

“What has happened is gone now, and we have to start thinking of the way forward for Nigerian football.”

He stressed the need for early and effective preparation, noting that the competition is fast approaching. In his view, there is now a clear expectation from Nigerian supporters for the team to respond positively after the World Cup disappointment.

“The AFCON is just around the corner, and it is important that we start preparations early and get everything right. I am sure the players understand how Nigerians feel now and will want to make amends at the Nations Cup.”

Shorunmu, who was Nigeria’s first-choice goalkeeper at the 2002 World Cup, said the disappointment was widely felt and stressed that the national team must now learn from the experience. He explained that the players and supporters shared the same frustration, noting that much about the performance and the overall preparation for the play-offs had fallen short.

He also reflected on the issues that contributed to the defeat, saying the team’s approach before the match lacked the necessary organization, saying, “in terms of preparation, it was a little bit sloppy,” adding that early planning should become a priority ahead of future major tournaments.

His remarks follow an emotional week for Nigerian football. In Rabat, Nigeria made a promising start against DR Congo when Frank Onyeka scored in the third minute, but the equaliser from Elia Meschack highlighted defensive frailties that persisted throughout the match.

The contest went to penalties after a tense period of extra time, with misses from Calvin Bassey, Moses Simon and Semi Ajayi proving decisive.

The defeat came after a difficult build-up to the play-offs. In the days before the semi-final against Gabon, the team briefly boycotted training over unpaid allowances and match bonuses, a dispute that was resolved after a day. William Troost-Ekong insisted afterwards that the players remained “united and focused on representing Nigeria with our maximum,” and the team went on to defeat Gabon 4–1 after extra time. However, the episode renewed wider criticism of the federation’s administrative shortcomings and raised concerns about governance, organisation and player welfare.

The Super Eagles now turn their attention to AFCON 2025, with all their group matches scheduled to take place at the Fez Stadium.

Nigeria will begin their campaign against Tanzania on December 23, followed by meetings with Tunisia on December 27 and Uganda on December 30. The team will be aiming for a strong start as they pursue a fourth continental title.