EXPLAINED: Reasons behind Nigeria’s recent dwindling women’s football fortunes

After winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) nine times in 2018, Nigeria finished fourth four years later as South Africa claimed its maiden African title defeating hosts Morocco 2-1 in the final.

In wide opinions of women’s football enthusiasts in Nigeria, the country has failed to do its homework. Homework in terms of doing the needful to develop women’s football at the grassroot level across the country, according to leading enthusiast Moses Bako.

“There is a saying that if you want to get something extraordinary, you also do something extraordinary. For years now, we have not gotten it right in this country,” Bako told nigeroafootball.ng.

“We have not produced enough sound players that could take over easily from Super Falcons players who had been there for a long time. South Africa for example started a good plan for women’s football development and it is paying them now. Most of the South Players in the senior national team played at the U-20 level a few years ago.”

The crumbling fortunes of the Super Falcons at international level is also rubbing off on the Nigeria clubs. For two years now, South African and Moroccan clubs have produced the champions of the first two editions of the CAF Women’s Champions League.

In 2021, Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies of South Africa won the maiden edition, defeating Hasaacas Ladies FC of Ghana 2-0 in the final while Rivers Angels of Nigeria failed to progress from the group stage.

This year 2022, ASFAR FC of Morocco thrashed holders Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies 4-0 to win the second edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League, while Bayelsa Queens of Nigeria settled for a bronze medal.

One might say there is a sign of improvement from the clubs but is women’s football in Nigeria at national team and club levels at its immemorial peak in 2022?

Reacting to this, Bako said: “That point when we refused to bring those who knew women’s football. Coaches who knew the players and in the women’s football constituency were not allowed to take charge of the U-17.

“This affected the growth of players. Rather than getting good and raw talents as well as looking at those players who were fantastic so that there can be a metamorphosis from U-17 to U-20  to the Super Falcons, we don’t do that.

“We have to stick by force with the team that we already know and now it is showing that those players that we already know have done all their best. Things are no longer the way they used to be because other African countries were getting it right and Nigeria is refusing to get it right.

“It’s now difficult to win the Women’s Cup of Nations because other countries have done their homework while Nigeria depends on past glory.”

A sign of relief for the women’s football franternity in the country as Bankole Olowookere recently led Nigeria’s national U-17 women’s team to a bronze medal at India 2022 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

As well as the U-20 team reaching the quarter-final and some of the players already progressing to Super Falcons plus earning top professional deals abroad. That might be seen as a fair progress and development in some aspect.

The question remains, can Super Falcons and Nigeria return to the good old days of being dominant in Africa?