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Oparanozie calls for youth and a qualified coach after Nigeria miss World Cup
Former Nigeria international Desire Oparanozie says the Super Falcons must introduce more young players and appoint a qualified coach after their failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria’s hopes of reaching next year’s tournament in Brazil ended with a 2-1 defeat by South Africa in their World Cup play-in tie in Morocco on Thursday. The result also ended one of the longest-standing records in women’s football, with the Super Falcons set to miss the World Cup for the first time since making their debut in 1991.
Oparanozie, who previously played for VfL Wolfsburg and was part of the German club’s UEFA Women’s Champions League-winning squad, said Nigeria needed a clear reset. She also felt the team had lacked urgency from the start of the match against South Africa.
South Africa established control after half-time when Thembi Kgatlana put Banyana Banyana ahead in the 56th minute. Refiloe Jane doubled their advantage in the 77th minute, leaving Nigeria with a difficult task.
Christy Ucheibe reduced the deficit from the penalty spot in stoppage time, but the Super Falcons were unable to find an equaliser before the final whistle.
Oparanozie’s call for younger players follows a disappointing WAFCON campaign in which Nigeria struggled at important stages of the tournament.
The Super Falcons began their Group C campaign with a 3-2 defeat by Malawi, who were appearing at the WAFCON for the first time. Nigeria responded with a 1-0 win over Zambia and then delivered their strongest group-stage performance by beating Egypt 6-2.
That victory secured a place in the quarter-finals, but Nigeria’s campaign ended in a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon. It represented a significant setback for a side that had reached at least the semi-finals at every previous WAFCON since the competition was established in 1998.
The failure in Morocco also had a direct impact on Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The 2026 WAFCON served as Africa’s qualifying competition for the tournament, with the four semi-finalists earning automatic qualification.
Morocco, Algeria, Malawi and Cameroon claimed those four direct places. South Africa and Ghana were given another opportunity through the intercontinental play-offs, while Nigeria’s defeat by South Africa brought their qualifying campaign to an end.
Oparanozie’s assessment is informed by an international career in which she represented Nigeria at four World Cups. She appeared at the 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 tournaments and won the WAFCON four times.
She also scored the decisive goal in the 84th minute of Nigeria’s 2016 WAFCON final victory over hosts Cameroon. Two years earlier, she won the 2014 Golden Boot after scoring five goals.
Her final appearance for Nigeria came at the 2023 World Cup against England. The Super Falcons were eliminated in the last 16 after losing the match in a penalty shootout.
