Caf has declared that "the whole of Africa will miss Nigeria in Equatorial Guinea" where the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations will take place in January through February.
Issa Hayatou, president of Caf, admitted this to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) boss, Amaju Pinnick, after the Afcon draw in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea last Wednesday.
Hayatou stated though that the failure of the African champions to qualify for the tournament "has not diminished" Nigeria as a powerhouse in the sport on the continent.
The Cameroonian added that he expects Nigeria to regroup and return "much stronger" among the top football countries in Africa.
“The whole of Africa will miss Nigeria in Equatorial Guinea. But the absence will not in any way diminish your stature as a very big and influential nation in the African game.
“It would have been good to have the defending champions here. Nigeria bring so much value to the Africa Cup of Nations. However, we know that you will come back much stronger, as you did in winning the Cup in South Africa last year after missing out of the 2012 championship,” Hayatou said.
Nigeria's Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2015 Afcon in a qualification group that had South Africa, Congo and Sudan.
Instead, South Africa and Congo finished first and second respectively ahead of the African champions to qualify for the Afcon.
It is the second time in the last three editions of the Afcon that Nigeria will fail to make an appearance. The last time they failed to qualify for the final was in 2012 when Equatorial Guinea and Gabon played co-hosts.

Source: http://ng.supersport.mobi/football/super-eagles/news/141207/Nigerias_Afcon_absence_bothers_Caf