Defending Champions Super Falcons of Nigeria suffered an upset after falling 1-0 to the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in the quarter final of the African Women’s Championship (WAFCON), holding in Morocco; thereby failing to secure an automatic spot in next year’s women’s world cup, which is guaranteed for the four semi finalists in this year’s tournament. They will now have to feature in a Play-in to have any chance of qualifying for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
Cameroon have thus qualified automatically for the World Cup thanks largely to the heroics of 22-year-old Benfica goalkeeper Michaely, who was simply unbeatable on the day and deservedly named Player of the Match.
The result means this is only the second time in 14 meetings that the Lionesses will beat their Nigerian counterparts.
The Super Falcons must also rue some poor finishing like the last minute chance wasted by substitute Esther Okoronkwo with the Cameroonian goalkeeper well beaten.
Defender Myriam Nyadjou’s superb free kick goal after 19 minutes proved to be the match winner.
The Super Falcons chased the game thereafter, but they were denied by the outstanding heroics of the goalkeeper, some resolute defending by the Cameroonians and their own poor finishing.
The Nigerian ladies will now take on Banyana Banyana of South Africa on Thursday in a 2026 WAFCON Play-in to decide one of the two spots reserved for Africa in an intercontinental Playoffs for next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Before the loss, Nigeria had not failed to qualify for the Women’s World Cup since the competition started in 1991.
It would be recalled that Nigeria denied South Africa the chance to feature in the Paris Olympics in 2024.
They also eliminated Banyana Banyana in the semifinal of the 2024 WAFCON.
In yet another blow to Nigerian football, the Flying Eagles failed to qualify for the 2027 U20 AFCON to follow suit with the Super Falcons, who failed to pick an automatic ticket to next year’s Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The Flying Eagles were roundly beaten 4-1 by Burkina Faso in the WAFU B final of the qualifying tournament in Cote d’Ivoire with NFF president, who also doubles as WAFU President, Ibrahim Gusau in attendance.
Burkina Faso will thus join hosts Ghana to next year’s U20 AFCON.
Alassane Bagayogo, Louckman Tapsoba and Issouf Dabo all scored for Burkina Faso within the first 15 minutes of the final, to set the ball rolling for their coronation as the new kings of WAFU B.
In the second half, the team led by coach Abdu Maikaba pulled a goal back, before Burkinabes rubbed more salt to injury with a fourth goal from another free kick in stoppage time.
Nigerian football fans have been calling for the sack of this present NFF board, led by its President, Ibrahim Gusau, since the Super Eagles failed to qualify for back-to-back world cups, with the latest being this year’s Mundial co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico, which was won by Spain.
