Nigeria’s Super Falcons Face Playoff Challenge After WAFCON Exit
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie expressed challenges for Nigeria’s Super Falcons following their failure to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team lost to Cameroon, 1-0, in the quarter-finals of the ongoing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
By reaching the semi-finals, Cameroon qualified for next year’s World Cup in Brazil, joining fellow semi-finalists Algeria, Malawi, and Morocco. With Nigeria now in a crucial position, they will compete against South Africa in a playoff match on Thursday at 20:00 GMT. This game offers them an opportunity to participate in an inter-confederation qualifier later this year, which could pave their way to the global tournament.
“This is football, this is life,” Nnadozie told the BBC World Service. “What happened happened; we just have to keep our heads high. There’s still hope – it’s not over yet.”
Nigeria has a history in the Women’s World Cup, having participated in all nine previous editions since the inaugural finals in China in 1991. The Super Falcons reached the quarter-finals in 1999 and progressed to the last 16 in the past two tournaments. However, after losing their WAFCON crown, they must defeat 2022 champions South Africa to stay in contention for a spot in the expanded 32-team World Cup.
“The coach has been cheering us up, and we really appreciate that from him,” Nnadozie added. “On Thursday, we’ll go out strong, we’ll try to do better than we’ve done against Cameroon and hope to get to the next stage of the World Cup. We will go there and make things right.”
In another match on Thursday, Ghana will face Ivory Coast for Africa’s other place in the inter-continental qualifier. The two WAFCON playoff winners will enter a 10-nation global competition, with preliminary rounds set for November and December, culminating in a final round in February that will decide the last three qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup, which starts on June 24.
Cameroon Ends Long Wait for World Cup Spot
In an impressive display, Cameroon defeated Nigeria with a first-half free-kick from teenager Myriam Nyadjou. Indomitable Lionesses goalkeeper Michaely Bihina made several remarkable saves to secure the victory in Casablanca.
Super Falcons midfielder Jennifer Echegini commented, “I think we were just a bit unfortunate. Honestly, it was one of our better games. We created many opportunities; the ball just didn’t go our way. But it’s not over yet. Unfortunately, it is for the WAFCON. But in terms of World Cup qualifiers, there’s still a lot to fight for.”
With this victory, Cameroon will appear in the World Cup for the first time since 2019. Forward Naomi Eto remarked, “We can say it was an ugly win because they attacked a lot, but we were very, very strong defensively. [It has] always been a dream to play in the World Cup. We’ve been waiting for this moment for the longest time, and it’s finally arrived.”
The elimination of Nigeria and South Africa over the weekend ensures that a new name will be etched on the WAFCON trophy this year. Hosts Morocco, who have been runners-up in the last two tournaments, will face Cameroon in the semi-finals on Wednesday, while Algeria will compete against Malawi later the same day.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie says Nigeria have to “go back to the drawing board” after missing out on automatic qualification for the 2027 Fifa Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons failed to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco, falling to a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon in the last eight on Sunday.
Advertisement
By reaching the last four, Cameroon have now guaranteed a ticket to next year’s World Cup in Brazil alongside fellow semi-finalists Algeria, Malawi and Morocco.
It means Nigeria, last year’s Wafcon champions, will now face South Africa in a play-off on Thursday (20:00 GMT) for a spot at an inter-confederation qualifier later this year which could give them another chance to reach the global showpiece.
“This is football, this is life,” Nnadozie told the BBC World Service.
“What happened happened, we just have to keep our heads high. There’s still hope – it’s not over yet.”
Advertisement
Nigeria have featured at all nine previous editions of the Women’s World Cup stretching back to the inaugural finals in China in 1991.
The Super Falcons made the quarter-finals in 1999 and progressed to the last 16 at the most recent two tournaments.
Yet, after losing their Wafcon crown, Justin Madugu’s side need to get past 2022 champions South Africa to remain in the hunt for a place at the expanded 32-team World Cup.
“The coach has been cheering us up, and we really appreciate that from him,” Nnadozie said.
“On Thursday we’ll go out strong, we’ll try to do better than we’ve done [against Cameroon] and hope to get to the next stage of the World Cup.
Advertisement
“We will go there and make things right.”
Elsewhere on Thursday, Ghana take on Ivory Coast for Africa’s second spot at the inter-continental qualifier.
The two Wafcon play-off winners will enter a 10-nation global competition, with a preliminary stage to be held in November and December.
A final round in February which will decide the last three qualifiers for the 2027 World Cup, which begins on 24 June.
Cameroon end ‘longest’ wait for World Cup spot
Cameroon upset the 10-time Wafcon winners through a first half free-kick from teenager Myriam Nyadjou.
Indomitable Lionesses goalkeeper Michaely Bihina then pulled off a string of saves to keep Nigeria at bay in Casablanca.
Advertisement
“I think we were just a bit unfortunate,” Super Falcons midfielder Jennifer Echegini said.
“I think honestly [it was] one of our better games. We created a lot more opportunities. The ball just didn’t go the way we wanted it to.
“But it’s not over yet. Unfortunately, it is for the Wafcon. But in terms of World Cup qualifiers, there’s still a lot to fight for.”
Victory means Cameroon will return to the World Cup for the first time since 2019.
“We can say it was an ugly win because they attacked a lot, but we were very, very strong defensively,” forward Naomi Eto told the BBC.
Advertisement
“[It has] always been a dream to play the World Cup. We’ve been waiting for this moment for the longest [time] and it’s finally arrived.”
The elimination of Nigeria and South Africa over the weekend means there will be a new name on the Wafcon trophy come Sunday night.
Hosts Morocco, who have been runners-up at the past two tournaments, take on Cameroon in the last four on Wednesday, while Algeria face Malawi later the same day.
[/gpt3]