Nigeria Players Abroad
Rinsola Babajide vows Super Falcons will recover after WAFCON and World Cup setbacks
Rinsola Babajide says the Super Falcons will “definitely bounce back” after Nigeria’s disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) ended with the team missing out on qualification for the women’s World Cup.
The Nigeria forward expressed her disappointment in a post on her official X handle, while also thanking supporters who backed the team during the tournament.
“Heartbroken to say the least. 💔🥺
“It really hurts to miss out on a World Cup spot but grateful for the opportunity to represent my country at yet another WAFCON, unfortunately it didn’t go the way we’d of liked it to have gone.
“We might be down right now but we’ll definitely bounce back, the only way we know how to, the Naija way! 🇳🇬🦅
“Time to reset, reflect & work ahead towards the Olympic qualifiers.
“Thank you to everyone who supported us both in the stands and from home through it all.
“The journey has been real. 🙏🏾.”
Babajide’s message followed a tournament that produced the Super Falcons’ worst-ever showing at the WAFCON.
Nigeria were eliminated in the quarter-finals after a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon. That result meant they missed out on automatic qualification for the World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Falcons were then given another route to the tournament through a play-in match against South Africa. However, they lost 2-1 and will now miss the World Cup for the first time since appearing at the inaugural edition in 1991 in China.
Despite the setbacks, Babajide said the team would use the experience as motivation as they turn their attention to the next challenge: the Olympic qualifiers.
Her comments came after Nigeria’s campaign ended without the progress the team had hoped to make, including a place at the World Cup. The forward’s emphasis on resetting and reflecting indicates that the squad’s focus has already begun to move towards its future assignments.
The Super Falcons remain one of Africa’s best-known women’s national teams, but their defeat by South Africa confirmed a historic absence from the next World Cup. The loss to Cameroon had initially denied them automatic qualification, before the play-in defeat brought their hopes to an end.
Babajide, who has represented Nigeria at another WAFCON, said the support received by the players had been important throughout the tournament. She acknowledged those who followed the team in the stands and those who watched from home.
Her promise that the Super Falcons would recover reflects the determination within the squad to respond in the manner she described as “the Naija way”.
The team’s next stated objective is to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers, with Babajide calling for a period of reflection and renewed work after a campaign that ended in disappointment.
