Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has reassured supporters that her spirits remain high following the ankle injury she suffered during Nigeria’s 5-0 victory over Comoros in the second leg of their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying tie, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The forward, who was forced off in the first half at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, shared a message of gratitude as the latest international break came to an end, reflecting on the team's performance and her pride in leading the national side.

“Another international break has come to an end, and I am grateful. It is an honour to lead this group of women. I am proud of how our team began its road to the Olympics, and of the unity, discipline, and fight each player brought to the national team,” she wrote.

Ajibade also addressed the incident that ended her involvement in the match after a collision left her landing heavily on her right foot.

Medical scans subsequently confirmed a fracture to her ankle, with further consultations and assessments ongoing to determine the next steps in her treatment.

“I also want to address the incident that happened to me during the 2nd leg against Comoros. Scans and medical consultations are ongoing, and more updates will be shared when available. At the moment, I am doing okay, and my spirits are high,” she stated.

The Paris Saint-Germain forward expressed appreciation to everyone who had contacted her with messages of encouragement and support since the injury.

"To everyone who reached out with messages, prayers and kind words, thank you from the bottom of my heart. To my teammates, family, our technical and medical staff, and our fans: I felt every bit of your love and support.”

Despite the setback, Ajibade said her priority was to focus on her recovery and work towards returning to action for both club and country.

“For now, my focus is on recovery and returning stronger for club and country. Thank you and God bless.”

The statement was signed by Ajibade as captain of the Super Falcons and ended with the words, “All for His glory.”

Meanwhile, Nigeria completed a 7-0 aggregate victory over Comoros to progress to the third round of the 2028 Olympic women's football qualifiers, where they are scheduled to face Morocco.

Ajibade’s injury will be a concern for the Super Falcons as they prepare for the next stage of the qualification campaign, with further medical updates expected as her assessment continues.

The Super Falcons will look to complete their job against Comoros on Tuesday and secure a place in the third round of the African qualifying series for the 2028 Olympic Games.

Nigeria hold a 2-0 advantage from Friday’s first leg at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo, where defender Michelle Alozie and forward Uchenna Kanu scored to put the 10-time African champions in control of the tie.

The Falcons are seeking to qualify for a second consecutive Olympic Games after ending a 16-year absence from the women’s football tournament at Paris 2024.

Comoros’ lack of a Confederation of African Football (CAF)-approved venue for international matches means both legs are being played in Nigeria, with Tuesday’s return fixture also scheduled for Ikenne-Remo.

Interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen and his technical crew could use the encounter to assess other members of the squad after naming a strong starting line-up for the opening leg.

Chiamaka Nnadozie started in goal on Friday, with Glory Ogbonna and Alozie operating as wing-backs, while Christy Ucheibe and Shukurat Oladipo featured in central defence.

Debutant Joy Igbokwe partnered Toni Payne and Jennifer Echegini in midfield, while captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Gift Monday and Kanu led the attack.

With a two-goal cushion, Eguavoen could make changes to his starting eleven, offering opportunities to players who did not feature from the beginning in the first leg.

Young goalkeeper Christiana Uzoma could be considered for a starting role, while Farida Abdulwahab and Tumininu Adeshina are among the defensive alternatives available to the coaching crew.

Suliat Abideen, who impressed after coming on in the second half of Friday’s match, is another candidate for a starting place.

In attack, former Nigeria U-17 captain Shakirat Moshood and Folashade Ijamilusi could be given opportunities, alongside Belarus-based duo Blessing Nkor and Blessing Okpe, as well as Sweden-based forward Joy Omewa.

A successful outcome on Tuesday would send Nigeria into the third qualifying round, where they are scheduled to meet Morocco in March 2027.

The Falcons will be determined to finish the tie strongly and keep their hopes of qualifying for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games on course.

Super Falcons interim head coach Augustine Eguavoen has played down concerns over the absence of three influential players ahead of Nigeria’s 2028 Olympic qualifying tie against Comoros, insisting that their replacements have the quality to deliver positive results.

As the Nigerian side prepares for Friday’s first-leg encounter in Ikenne, Eguavoen expressed confidence in his available squad, backing the players to handle the challenge across both legs.

“It is true that we have a number of withdrawals, notably Asisat Oshoala, Ashley Plumptre and Oluwatosin Demehin. However, I have confidence in their replacements as these ones also have the quality and experience to contribute meaningfully to the team’s success against Comoros.

“Everyone has settled in well in camp as we have a full house now, and our focus is to present a strong and competitive squad for the two matches.”

Nigeria initially began preparations with 14 players before captain Rasheedat Ajibade and six other squad members joined the camp, taking the number of available players to 21.

Ajibade arrived alongside Michelle Alozie, Christy Ucheibe, Toni Payne, Jennifer Echegini, Folashade Ijamilusi and Janet Akekoromowei as preparations continued at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo.

Goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie and Comfort Erhabor, together with forwards Gift Monday, Joy Omewa and Uchenna Kanu, were also expected to join the squad as Nigeria intensified preparations for the opening fixture.

The Super Falcons received a bye into the second round of the African qualifying series, while Comoros advanced after recording a remarkable 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan.

Nigeria will host Comoros in the first leg on Friday, October 9, before the return fixture on Tuesday, October 13. Both matches will be played at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne because Comoros do not have a CAF-approved venue for international fixtures.

The qualification campaign presents Nigeria with another opportunity to return to the Olympic women’s football tournament after competing at Paris 2024, which ended a 16-year absence from the Games.

The Falcons will be eager to secure another Olympic appearance in Los Angeles in 2028 following a disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign and their failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons could meet Morocco in the third round of the African qualifiers for the women’s football tournament at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, provided they overcome Comoros in their current two-legged tie, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Nigeria is scheduled to face Comoros on October 9 and 13, 2026, with the aggregate winner advancing to the next stage of the qualification campaign.

Morocco have already progressed to the third round following Congo’s withdrawal from the competition. The Atlas Lionesses will now await the outcome of the Nigeria-Comoros tie to discover their next opponents.

Nigeria, however, must first overcome Comoros before attention can turn to a potential showdown with the North African side.

The third-round fixtures are scheduled to take place between February 23 and March 6, 2027, as the race for Africa’s qualifying places at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games continues.

Super Falcons Focus on Comoros Test

The Super Falcons will be eager to secure a favourable aggregate result against Comoros and keep their Olympic ambitions on track.

The first leg is scheduled for October 9, with the return fixture set for October 13. Nigeria will need to navigate both encounters successfully to advance to the next stage.

The qualification campaign offers the nine-time African champions another opportunity to return to the Olympic women’s football tournament after missing the Paris 2024 Games.

Despite their ambitions, the immediate focus for the Nigerian team remains the two-legged contest against Comoros, with the players expected to concentrate on securing progression before considering their potential next opponents.

Morocco Await Possible Third-Round Meeting

Morocco’s advancement without playing in the second round gives the Atlas Lionesses additional time to prepare for their next assignment.

A potential meeting with Nigeria would bring together two prominent sides in African women’s football. Morocco have made significant progress in recent years, while the Super Falcons boast a long history of success on the continent.

Such a fixture would represent a major test for either side as they seek to move closer to qualification for Los Angeles 2028.

For Nigeria, though, the path forward is clear: overcome Comoros in October before turning attention to the challenge that could await in the third round.

The Super Falcons have welcomed five more players into camp as preparations gather pace for their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying clash with Comoros, taking the number of players in camp to 26, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The latest arrivals were reported between Tuesday and the early hours of Wednesday, giving the technical crew a much stronger squad to work with ahead of the two-legged encounter.

Nigeria are scheduled to train on Wednesday and Thursday as they fine-tune their preparations for Friday’s first-leg meeting with Comoros at the Remo Stars Stadium.

The return leg will take place next Tuesday, with the Super Falcons hoping to secure a positive result in the opening game before heading into the second encounter.

The squad features a blend of experienced internationals based in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa, alongside key players from the Nigerian domestic league.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Jennifer Echegini, Toni Payne, Christy Ucheibe, Michelle Alozie, Chiamaka Nnadozie, Gift Monday and Uchenna Kanu are among the established names already in camp.

Super Falcons Players in Camp

Shukurat Oladipo, DF, AS Roma, Italy

Shakirat Moshood, FW, SCU Torreense, Portugal

Glory Ogbonna, DF, Be?ikta? JK, Turkey

Omenazu Favour, MF, MK Dons, England

Farida Abdulwahab, DF, Nasarawa Amazons

Tumininu Adeshina, DF, Edo Queens

Joy Igbokwe, MF, Nasarawa Amazons

Fatimoh Solaty, MF, Nasarawa Amazons

Christiana Uzoma, GK, Edo Queens

Blessing Nkor, FW, Dynamo Brest, Belarus

Valentina Uroko, DF, Edo Queens

Glory Edet, DF, Bayelsa Queens

Sandra John, DF, Rivers Queens

Suliat Abideen, DF, Fenerbahçe Ladies, Turkey

Folashade Ijamilusi, FW, Lianiong Baiye, China

Toni Payne, MF, Inter Milan, Italy

Christy Ucheibe, MF, Al-Hilal, Saudi Arabia

Janet Akekoromowei, FW, SL Benfica, Portugal

Rasheedat Ajibade, FW, PSG, France

Jennifer Echegini, MF, PSG, France

Michelle Alozie, DF, Chicago Stars, USA

Chiamaka Nnadozie, GK, Brighton & Hove Albion, England

Gift Monday, FW, Washington Spirit, USA

Joy Omewa, FW, BK Häcken, Sweden

Uchenna Kanu, FW, Cruz Azul Femenil, Mexico

Comfort Erhabor, GK, Portsmouth Ladies, England

With the squad now largely assembled, the focus will be on the final training sessions before the Falcons face Comoros.

The two-leg tie represents another important hurdle in Nigeria’s bid to secure a place at the women’s football tournament of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Super Falcons have opened camp in Ikenne, Ogun State, with nine players already reporting for duty ahead of their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying tie against Comoros, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The Nigerian senior women’s national team is using the Remo Stars Stadium as its training base, with both legs of the second-round qualifier scheduled to be played at the same venue.

Nine players have so far arrived in camp as the coaching crew begins preparations for the crucial two-legged encounter.

The players currently in camp are:

Goalkeepers: Christiana Uzoma, Edo Queens

Defenders: Farida Abdulwahab, Nasarawa Amazons; Tumininu Adeshina, Edo Queens; Valentina Uroko, Edo Queens; Glory Edet, Bayelsa Queens

Midfielders: Joy Igbokwe, Nasarawa Amazons; Fatimoh Solaty, Nasarawa Amazons

Forwards: Blessing Nkor, Dynamo Brest, Belarus; Sandra John, Rivers Queens

More players are expected to join the squad from Monday, particularly those arriving from clubs outside Nigeria, as preparations continue in Ikenne.

The Super Falcons will face Comoros in the two-legged second-round Olympic qualifier, with both teams battling for a place in the next stage of the qualification process.

Nigeria will be looking to establish an advantage across the two encounters as the team continues its bid to qualify for the women’s football tournament at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Comoros have announced a 22-player squad for their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying tie against Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The squad features three goalkeepers, five defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards as the island nation prepares for the crucial second-round encounter.

The two-legged tie will be played at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne, Ogun State, despite Comoros being listed as the home side for the opening fixture.

The first leg is scheduled for Friday, October 9, with Nigeria hosting the return encounter on Tuesday, October 13.

The Comoros delegation, comprising players and officials, is expected to arrive in Nigeria this weekend ahead of the two matches.

The Super Falcons will be looking to make home advantage count as they aim to secure progress to the next stage of the qualifying campaign.

The winner of the tie on aggregate will advance to the third round of the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers.

Super Falcons defender Osinachi Ohale has announced her retirement from international football, bringing an impressive 16-year career with Nigeria to a close, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Ohale made 86 appearances for the Super Falcons during her time with the national team, establishing herself as one of the most experienced defenders of her generation.

The veteran defender represented Nigeria at four FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments and featured in seven editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Her international career was also decorated with five WAFCON titles, highlighting the major role she played during one of the most successful periods in the history of Nigerian women’s football.

Ohale’s journey with the Super Falcons spanned different generations of players and saw her remain a regular presence in the national team for more than a decade.

Beyond her appearances and trophies, her longevity provided valuable experience to several generations of Super Falcons players throughout her international career.

Her decision brings to an end a distinguished chapter that began 16 years ago and included appearances at major continental and global tournaments.

Ohale leaves the national team with 86 caps, five African titles and four FIFA Women’s World Cup appearances, while her contribution will remain an important part of the Super Falcons’ history.

Former Super Eagles head coach Augustine Eguavoen has been handed the responsibility of leading the Super Falcons on an interim basis for their 2028 Olympic Games qualifying double-header against Comoros in October, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

Eguavoen, who currently serves as the NFF Technical Director, will oversee the two-legged encounter while the Nigeria Football Federation continues its search for a substantive head coach.

Popularly known as “Cerezo”, the former Nigeria international brings vast experience to the assignment, having previously managed the Super Eagles at senior international level and guided the team to a bronze medal at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

He will be assisted by Nasarawa Amazons head coach Christopher Danjuma, who has extensive experience working with Nigeria’s women’s national teams. Danjuma was previously in charge of the Falconets at the 2024 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica.

Former Super Eagles goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Baruwa has also joined the interim technical team as goalkeeper coach. Baruwa has worked with several of Nigeria’s national sides, including the Super Eagles, CHAN Eagles, Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets.

Former Super Falcons defender Ayisat Yusuf has been appointed as another assistant coach. Yusuf earned 68 international caps during her playing career and featured for Nigeria at four Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, three FIFA Women’s World Cups and the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

The Super Falcons will begin their Olympic qualifying campaign in the second round against Comoros, with both legs scheduled to take place at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo on October 9 and 13, 2026.

Nigeria received a bye into the second round as one of the three highest-ranked teams in the qualifying competition, while Comoros booked their place after eliminating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate.

The 10-time African champions must successfully negotiate four rounds of two-legged knockout ties to secure one of Africa’s two available places at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

Should Nigeria overcome Comoros, they will advance to the third round, scheduled for February 23 to March 6, 2027, where they will face either the Democratic Republic of Congo or Morocco.

A place in the fourth round would bring another two-legged tie against one of Tunisia, Senegal, Benin Republic or Mali between October 4 and 12, 2027.

The final round of qualifying is scheduled for November 23 to December 4, 2027, with potential opponents including Guinea, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Central African Republic, Algeria and Burkina Faso.

For Eguavoen and his interim coaching staff, the immediate objective will be to guide the Super Falcons past Comoros and keep Nigeria’s hopes of returning to the Olympic Games alive.

The Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne-Remo has been chosen to host both legs of Nigeria’s second-round 2028 Olympic women’s football qualifying tie against Comoros, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

The Super Falcons will welcome Comoros in the first leg on October 9 before returning to the same venue for the second leg on October 13 as Nigeria begins its campaign to secure a place at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

The Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed the venue arrangement and expressed confidence that the 10-time African champions can secure a second consecutive Olympic qualification after featuring at the Paris 2024 Games.

Nigeria, one of the three highest-ranked teams in the qualifying competition, received a bye into the second round and will now face Comoros over two legs.

Comoros earned their place in the second round after recording a remarkable 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan in the opening round.

The Super Falcons will now look to capitalise on home advantage in Ikenne, secure a positive result across the two matches and advance to the next stage of the Olympic qualification race.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and National Sports Commission (NSC) are expected to unveil the new head coach of the Super Falcons on Tuesday in Abuja, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The appointment comes after the 10-time African champions endured a disappointing 2026 Africa Women’s Cup of Nations campaign in Morocco, where they crashed out in the quarter-finals and missed the opportunity to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Following the underwhelming showing, Justin Madugu was relieved of his position, leaving the federation with the task of appointing a new technical handler ahead of the team’s next major assignment.

With the 2028 Olympic Games qualifiers approaching, the NFF is keen to settle the coaching situation early and give the new manager sufficient time to establish his plans and begin preparations.

A senior NSC official told BSN Sports that the new coach is expected to be announced in Abuja on Tuesday as Nigeria steps up preparations for the Olympic qualifying campaign.

“In order to start the preparation for the 2028 Olympic Games early, the NFF will announce the new Super Falcons coach on Tuesday,” the official said.

The source declined to reveal the identity of the incoming coach, instead asking Nigerians to wait for the official unveiling.

“Tuesday is around the corner. Wait until the coach is unveiled,” the official added.

The announcement will bring an end to the uncertainty surrounding the Super Falcons’ technical leadership and mark the beginning of preparations for the team’s next challenge on the road to the 2028 Olympics.

Former Super Falcons head coach Thomas Dennerby has emerged as a leading contender to take charge of Nigeria’s women’s national team again, with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) working to appoint a new technical crew ahead of the 2028 Olympic qualifiers, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The NFF is understood to have opened discussions with the 65-year-old Swedish tactician as it seeks to rebuild the Falcons following their disappointing outing at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Nigeria entered the tournament as defending champions but failed to retain the title and subsequently missed out on qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The setback led the previous NFF administration under former president Ibrahim Gusau to ask the technical crew headed by Justin Madugu to step aside in August.

Madugu had previously delivered a major success with the Falcons, guiding them to a record-extending 10th WAFCON title in 2025.

With the next phase of the 2028 Olympic qualifying campaign scheduled for October, the interim NFF administration led by Emmanuel Ikpeme is keen to appoint a new technical team before Nigeria’s next competitive fixture.

National Sports Commission Director-General Bukola Olopade had earlier confirmed that changes to the Falcons’ technical structure were being considered as Nigeria targets qualification for the Los Angeles Olympic Games.

“The Olympics are around the corner; we will see how we can tweak the technical team of the Falcons as we did for the U-23, which coach Eric Chelle will handle. This is because we are desirous of qualifying for the Olympics,” Olopade said in August.

Although discussions with Dennerby are reportedly ongoing, Nigerian coaches remain in contention for the position.

Former Super Falcons captain and coach Florence Omagbemi is also understood to be among those being considered. Omagbemi famously guided Nigeria to the 2016 WAFCON title.

Dennerby, however, is believed to be high on the NFF’s shortlist because of his previous achievements with the team.

The Swede took over as Super Falcons coach in January 2018 and quickly made his mark by leading Nigeria to the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations title in Ghana later that year.

He subsequently guided the Falcons to the knockout stage of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, ending Nigeria’s 20-year wait to reach the Round of 16 at the tournament.

Dennerby left his position in September 2019 following an administrative dispute with the NFF before later taking charge of the Indian women’s national team, where he remained until his contract expired in 2023.

Nigeria eventually returned to the women’s football tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games after a 16-year absence but failed to advance from the group stage.

Following the country’s failure to qualify for the 2027 World Cup, the Olympic qualifiers now offer the Falcons an opportunity to rebuild and secure another place on the global stage.

Nigeria are scheduled to face Comoros in October in the next round of the Olympic qualifying campaign.

Comoros reached the second round after recording a remarkable 30-0 aggregate victory over Sudan. They won the first leg 17-0 on June 3 before completing the rout with a 13-0 victory in the return fixture five days later.

With the Olympic qualification campaign approaching, the NFF faces increasing pressure to resolve the coaching situation and establish a stable technical structure ahead of the crucial encounter with Comoros.

The Super Falcons will begin their bid to qualify for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games when they face Comoros in the second round of the African qualifiers in October, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.

Nigeria received a bye into the second round alongside South Africa and Ghana after being ranked among Africa’s top teams. The two-legged tie against Comoros is scheduled for October 5–13, 2026.

Comoros booked their place in the second round in emphatic fashion, defeating Sudan 30-0 on aggregate. They won the first leg 17-0 before completing the rout with a 13-0 victory in the return fixture.

Nigeria will enter the tie as clear favourites, but the knockout format leaves little room for complacency. The Falcons must successfully navigate each round to secure one of Africa’s two available Olympic tickets.

A victory over Comoros would send Nigeria into the third round, where they could face either Morocco or Congo between February 23 and March 6, 2027. Morocco would present a particularly challenging test, having emerged as one of Africa’s leading women’s teams in recent years.

Fourth-Round Challenge

Should Nigeria progress beyond the third round, another two-legged tie awaits between October 4 and 12, 2027.

Potential opponents at that stage include Tunisia, Senegal, Benin Republic and Mali, meaning the Falcons will need consistency throughout a qualification campaign stretching over more than a year.

The final stage is scheduled for November 23 to December 4, 2027, when the remaining four teams will battle for the continent’s two Olympic berths.

A total of 35 African nations entered the qualifying competition, with the teams progressing through successive knockout rounds.

For Nigeria, four successful two-legged ties will be required to secure qualification for Los Angeles.

Falcons Target Consecutive Olympic Appearances

The Super Falcons returned to the Olympic Games at Paris 2024 after a 16-year absence and will now attempt to qualify for consecutive editions for the first time since reaching the 2004 and 2008 tournaments.

Nigeria previously competed at Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and Paris 2024, with the quarter-finals at Athens 2004 representing their best Olympic finish.

With four rounds standing between the Falcons and Los Angeles, preparation, squad depth, player fitness and adequate support will be crucial.

The journey to Los Angeles begins against Comoros in October, with Morocco or Congo potentially awaiting in the next round.

Super Falcons defender Michelle Alozie has reportedly deactivated her Instagram account following intense criticism from Nigerian fans after the team failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.

Nigeria endured a disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, exiting in the quarter-finals after a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon. The result meant the Falcons had to beat South Africa in a subsequent play-in fixture to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

However, Nigeria suffered a 2-1 defeat to Banyana Banyana, bringing an end to their hopes of reaching the tournament and ending their record of appearing at every edition of the Women’s World Cup since 1991.

The disappointing results triggered widespread criticism of the players, coaching staff and Nigeria Football Federation, with Alozie, a regular member of the national team, also coming under scrutiny.

The defender has previously attracted attention for her activity on social media and her involvement in viral content with teammates. However, the latest criticism followed Nigeria’s historic failure to secure World Cup qualification.

Alozie’s Instagram account has remained inactive since the backlash intensified, with reports indicating that she deactivated the platform amid the criticism.

The fallout has also intensified calls for the dismissal of head coach Justine Madugu and major changes within the NFF following the Falcons’ disappointing campaign.

The setback has compounded a difficult period for Nigerian football, with the Super Falcons, Super Eagles and Flying Eagles all failing to qualify for their respective World Cups in what would mark an unprecedented occurrence in the country’s football history.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has blamed missed opportunities, individual errors and lapses in concentration for Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup following their 2-1 defeat to South Africa in Casablanca, Nigeriasoccernet.com.

The result ended Nigeria’s remarkable record of appearing at every edition of the Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991. Madugu apologised to Nigerians, accepting responsibility for the disappointing outcome.

“I will like to apologise to Nigerians over our inability to make it to the World Cup. We are very sorry. It was not our intention. We came, did the best that we could do, but our best wasn’t enough,” Madugu said.

The coach explained that Nigeria created opportunities but failed to convert them, while defensive mistakes gave South Africa the openings needed to secure victory.

“We had chances, but conversion was another problem, and we made some errors at the back. They capitalised on that and got the goals.”

Madugu further pointed to poor decision-making and a brief loss of concentration as decisive factors in the defeat, insisting that the Falcons could have avoided the outcome by sticking to their game plan.

Madugu Defends Alozie

The Super Falcons coach also defended his decision to deploy Michelle Alozie at left-back, insisting that the position was not responsible for Nigeria’s defeat.

Madugu noted that Alozie had previously excelled in the role and was even named Player of the Match during the tournament. He maintained that individual positioning and decision-making were the bigger problems against South Africa.

“Like I said, it’s not about the ability to play in that position, but it had to do with individual positioning and errors.”

‘We Have a Goal-Scoring Problem’

Madugu admitted that Nigeria’s lack of clinical finishing remains a major concern, despite the team creating numerous chances.

“Of course, we will say we have a goal-scoring problem because we have not been clinical in front of goal. We create several chances, but we are very wasteful with the opportunities that always come our way.”

The coach insisted that Nigeria would have scored more goals if the players had been more efficient in front of goal.

With their World Cup hopes now over, the Super Falcons will turn their attention to the 2028 Olympic qualifiers, which are scheduled to begin in October.

Super Falcons forward Rinsola Babajide has admitted that Nigeria’s failure to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup was painful but insists the team must quickly regroup and shift attention to the Olympic qualifiers, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.

Nigeria’s campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) ended in disappointment after the Super Falcons suffered a quarter-final defeat to Cameroon before losing 2-1 to South Africa in the subsequent World Cup play-in. The results ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament in Brazil.

Babajide, who represented Nigeria at the tournament, acknowledged the disappointment while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent the country once again.

“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,” Babajide said.

“Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way we’d have 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.”

The forward stressed the need for the team to learn from the experience and begin preparations for their next assignment.

“Time to reset, reflect and work ahead towards the Olympic qualifiers,” she added.

Babajide also appreciated the supporters who stood behind the Super Falcons throughout their WAFCON campaign.

“Thank you to everyone who supported us both in the stands and from home through it all. The journey has been real.”

The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to the Olympic qualifiers as they seek to secure another opportunity to represent Nigeria on the international stage.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has constituted a six-member fact-finding committee to investigate Nigeria’s recent poor performances in international football, with particular attention on the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, writes Nigeriasoccernet.com.

The move follows the Falcons’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the defending champions were eliminated by Cameroon in the quarter-finals before suffering a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the World Cup qualifying playoff.

The defeat ended Nigeria’s remarkable record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991. The setback has raised fresh questions about the state of women’s football in the country and the factors behind the national teams’ recent struggles.

Former NFF General Secretary, Ambassador Fanny Amun, MON, will chair the committee, which has been tasked with examining the reasons behind what the federation described as the “unwholesome poor run” of Nigeria’s national teams in international competitions.

The committee comprises former Nigeria U-20 head coach and Nigeria Football Coaches Association president Ladan Bosso, former Super Falcons captain and multiple Women’s AFCON winner Desire Oparanozie, former Super Eagles captain and AFCON winner Mutiu Adepoju, and former FIFA referee Dr Alex Mana.

Chairman of the Sokoto State Football Association, Mallam Mohammed Nasir Sa’idu, will serve as secretary.

Fact-Finding Committee:

Ambassador Fanny Amun, MON - Chairman

Coach Ladan Bosso - Member

Desire Oparanozie - Member

Mutiu Adepoju - Member

Dr Alex Mana - Member

Mallam Mohammed Nasir Sa’idu - Secretary

The committee is expected to assess the factors responsible for Nigeria’s recent international setbacks and provide findings that could help the NFF address the challenges facing the country’s national teams.

Former Shooting Stars coach Fatai Amao has criticised the Super Falcons following their 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off in Casablanca, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes

The loss means Nigeria will miss the Women’s World Cup for the first time since making their debut at the competition in 1991, ending an eight-edition streak.

The Super Falcons fell behind in the 56th minute when Thembi Kgatlana found the breakthrough, before Refiloe Jane doubled South Africa’s advantage 21 minutes later. Christy Ucheibe pulled one back from the penalty spot late in the game, but Nigeria could not find an equaliser.

Amao expressed his disappointment with the result, describing the performance as unacceptable given the importance of the encounter.

“I am really disappointed with the way the Super Falcons lost their only chance of qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup to South Africa.

“This performance is unacceptable considering the fact that this match was supposed to serve as an opportunity for the team to bounce back to winning ways.

“We have to look beyond this result and start to prepare early for the next tournament.”

Nigeria's failure to qualify comes after their quarter-final elimination by Cameroon at the 2026 WAFCON, which had already ended their remarkable record of reaching at least the semi-finals in every edition they had previously contested.

The Super Falcons, who have won the continental title 10 times, will now have to regroup and begin preparations for their next major international challenge.

Meanwhile, Ghana defeated Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in the other play-in fixture to advance to the preliminary round of the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.

South Africa defeated Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2-1 in Thursday’s 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-in clash, ending the nine-time African champions’ hopes of reaching the global tournament, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.

The defeat means Nigeria will miss the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since making their debut at the inaugural edition in 1991, bringing an end to a remarkable streak of eight consecutive appearances.

The Super Falcons had been given another route to qualification after their quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the 2026 WAFCON, but they were unable to overcome Banyana Banyana in Casablanca.

Nigeria’s failure to qualify represents a major setback for the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, who have featured at every Women’s World Cup since 1991.

For South Africa, the victory keeps their hopes of reaching the 2027 World Cup alive as they advance in the qualification process.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has vowed that Nigeria will give everything to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup alive when they face South Africa on Thursday, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

The 10-time African champions missed out on automatic qualification after suffering a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria now face Banyana Banyana at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with a place in the inter-confederation playoffs at stake.

Madugu acknowledged the importance of the encounter and expressed confidence that his players can respond positively to their disappointment against the Indomitable Lionesses.

“We have a second chance. We have this second opportunity. We are still going to do the best that we can,” Madugu said during his interaction with the media in Casablanca.

The coach stressed that the Super Falcons are determined to make the most of the opportunity and deliver a result that will keep their World Cup ambitions alive.

“We’re not leaving anything out. We’re going to put in all our best to make sure that we put smiles on the faces of our people because we know what it means to all of us as Nigerians.”

Madugu also revealed that selection for the decisive encounter would be based strictly on readiness, ruling out experimentation or unnecessary squad rotation.

“For tomorrow’s (today's) game, for every game we pick, we pick those that we feel are ready to ensure that we win every match,” he added.

“It’s not just about squad rotation, that everybody should have an opportunity to just play. It’s not about that. It’s about ensuring that we have the right people that will always win every game for us.”

The Super Falcons must defeat South Africa to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs and preserve their hopes of featuring at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.