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Super Falcons miss 2027 Women’s World Cup after South Africa defeat
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will miss the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after a 2-1 defeat by South Africa ended their hopes of reaching the intercontinental play-offs.
The decisive match on Thursday was effectively a qualification shootout, with both sides knowing that victory would secure a place in the next stage. South Africa, known as Banyana Banyana, prevailed and claimed the available ticket at Nigeria’s expense.
The result means Nigeria will fail to appear at the Women’s World Cup for the first time since the inaugural tournament in 1991. It represents another major disappointment for the Super Falcons, who were knocked out of the 2026 WAFCON at the quarter-final stage after a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon.
A win against South Africa would have sent Nigeria into the intercontinental play-offs alongside Ghana, who secured their place by beating Ivory Coast. Instead, the Super Falcons will have to watch the tournament from home.
Nigeria had hoped that its women’s team could restore some pride after a series of recent setbacks involving the country’s national sides. The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for two successive FIFA World Cup tournaments, missing the 2022 edition and then failing to reach the 2026 competition.
That latest men’s failure was confirmed last month, when Nigeria were beaten by DR Congo in the CAF play-off final.
The difficulties have also extended to Nigeria’s youth teams. The Golden Eaglets did not qualify for the 2023, 2025 or 2026 editions of the U-17 Africa Cup of Nations. As a result, they also missed the corresponding U-17 World Cup tournaments.
Nigeria have historically been one of the leading nations at under-17 level. The Golden Eaglets have won the FIFA U-17 World Cup a record five times, more than any other country, while Brazil are next on four titles.
In recent years, however, Nigeria have struggled to maintain that record of success and have missed several editions of the competition. Those difficulties have already prompted changes, with Eboboritse Uwejamomere recently appointed to help oversee a new era and transform the Golden Eaglets.
The U-23 side has also endured a significant setback. Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2023 Africa U-23 Cup of Nations, which meant they lost the chance to compete for a place at the 2024 Olympics.
There have been further qualification failures in other formats. Nigeria did not reach the 2024 Beach Soccer AFCON (Men), the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations or the 2027 U-20 FIFA World Cup tournament.
Changes in personnel have followed the setbacks across the different age groups and national teams. The Super Falcons’ latest disappointment is likely to intensify calls for a wider revamp of Nigerian football.
For a country with Nigeria’s standing and history in African football, the growing list of failed qualification campaigns is becoming increasingly difficult to overlook.
The result will also increase pressure on NFF president Ibrahim Gusau, with the federation’s general elections due to take place next month.
