WAFCON Exit, World Cup Miss: Has Nigeria Lost It Completely? – Independent Newspaper Nigeria

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This may not be the best period in Nigerian football as the Super Falcons, unarguably one of the most decorated national teams in the world, set two records, albeit negatively, in less than seven days.
For the first time since the inception of the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), the serial winners, Super Falcons of Nigeria, failed to reach the semifinal.
Similarly, the ten times African champions, for the first time since the start of the FIFA Women World Cup in China in 1991, failed to qualify for the quadrennial competition, all these happening at the ongoing WAFCON in Morocco where the team was billed to defend its title, having won the competition for the record tenth time two years ago in the same Morocco.

The Super Falcons might have started the WAFCON abysmally with unexpected 3-2 loss to the debutants and eventual finalists, Malawi, but not many fans expected the serial winners and defending champions to drop the guard at the quarterfinal.

Their elimination at the quarterfinal by the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon led to that negative record, sending a very disturbing signal of how the serial champions have dipped in the very championship they previously dominated.

Also, the Cameroon’s win over Nigeria means that a first-time champion will be crowned in today’s final, as South Africa were also eliminated at the last eight, while Equatorial Guinea — the other country to have won the WAFCON — did not qualify.

However, particularly appalling was their inability to beat the Bayana Bayana of South Africa for a place in the intercontinental playoff which offered  a window to also qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

Just like the Super Eagles which failed to beat DR Congo for a place in the intercontinental playoff for the last World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, the Super Falcons toed the same path, failing to grab the opportunity for a ‘backdoor’ qualification for Brazil.

To many Nigerians, the lackluster performance against the debutants, Malawi, in their opening match was the red flag that things were obviously wrong with the team

Although they upped their game against the Copper Queens of Zambia in the second game, beating the Shipolopolo 1-0, the conclusion among many analysts was that the hitherto dominant Super Falcons might have lost their invincibility and steam, and even after eventually getting past Egypt 6-2 to book a quarterfinal place, the debate centered on whether they would mount any serious challenge to retain their crown.

Also, their group stage performance cast a doubt on their preparedness to secure an automatic World Cup spot by getting past the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon — a side they have severally made to look ordinary in previous encounters who have also shown so much resilience in this tournament.

Before losing to Cameroon in the quarterfinal, Super Falcons have met the Indomitable Lionesses 12 times dating back to their first clash at the semifinal of the 1998 WAFCON in Lagos where the host demolished the Lionesses 6-0.
Since then, Nigeria, before the quarterfinal loss days ago, had lost only once to them and it was during a third place match of the WAFCON in 2012 hosted by Equatorial Guinea.

At this ongoing WAFCON, the Indomitable Lionesses have been everything the Super Falcons failed to be after victories over West African foes, Ghana and Mali, before a draw against Cape Verde, led them to finish top of Group D.

Consequently, beating and eliminating Nigeria at the quarterfinal wasn’t entirely unexpected, even though some sections of the media understood the experience and quality depth in the Super Falcons squad as reasons they could have risen above the Lionesses.

However, since the exit of the about-to-be dethroned African champions, discussions have centered on whether Nigeria has lost it in the competition the Super Falcons have shown dominance over the years.

The questions become relevant given that despite their poor showing lately, the ten times winners are still the continent’s best side in terms of squad depth.

From goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie of Brighton of England down to others like Osinachi Ohale of Pachuca Tuzas, Mexico; Michelle Alozie of Olivia Wynn, USA; Shukurat Oladipo of Roma; Okuwatosin Demehin of Galatasaray, Turkey; Christy Ucheibe of Benfica, Portugal; Rasheedat Ajibade of PSG, France; Debora Abiodun of Washington Spirits; Tony Payne of Everton, England; Esther Okoronkwo of AFC Toronto, Canada; Uchenna Kanu of Cruz Azul Femenil, Mexico, and Folashade Ijamilusi of Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China, among others like old brigades — Asisat Oshoala of Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia; Francisca Ordega of Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia, and Jennifer Echegini of Paris Saint Germain, France, the Super Falcons have what it takes to shrug off their poor start and do well in the tournament. They failed over a number of factors.
To begin with, the ongoing WAFCON, analysts agreed, has been a nightmare tournament for goalkeeper, Nnadozie, who has looked far from her best. She started the competition by letting in three goals against Malawi, recovered against Zambia but looked shaky against Egypt and has now allowed the Cameroon goal.

For context, Cameroon, in the quarterfinal, created nothing before the decisive goal, and precious little after. That freekick was their only real shot on target and should have been an easy save for Nnadozie, if she was in the right position.

But she was not. Having set up her wall, the goalkeeper appeared to have zoned out for a second or two, It was all Nyadjou needed to rifle the freekick straight into the net.

Against South Africa in the playoff, the goalkeeper was obviously culpable in the first goal where her reflexes failed her.

While the real Nnadozie remains one of the best keepers around, she may need a time out to get herself back to form.

For her assistant goalkeeper, Comfort Erhabor, she proved during the friendlies that she could be an able deputy. In fact, she should be seriously considered to start matches now in order to boost her confidence.

In another sore area, Nigeria’s left back was a suspect at this tournament for obvious reasons. Super Falcons either need to find a left-back in a hurry, or develop the two in the squad to the level they need to be.

The Michelle Alozie experiment at left back has run its course. It is simply not working. Worse, it is reducing her effectiveness in the area where she is strong at, which is down the right side.
To start with she is not a defender, she was a striker converted by former coach, Randy Waldrum, to right back. But Madugu, with Glory Ogbonna and Rofiat Imuran available to him, does not appear to trust either of them enough to play them in their natural positions.

Shukurat Oladipo, who has filled in at right back when Alozie has been shunted the other way, is a natural centreback, with the instincts and skillset that come with it.

When the Super Falcons needed a fullback to run down the line and support the wide forwards, Oladipo was making clearances, many of which ended up outside the lines for a throw in to Cameroon.
Alozie, on her part, was largely ineffective driving down the left side or finding crosses, and tended to pinch into the middle, leaving the team unbalanced.
Nigeria captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, could do nothing to prevent her side from crashing out of WAFCON at the earliest stage the Super Falcons ever have, failing to reach the semifinals for the first time and thus missing out on an automatic World Cup spot.

Despite the above however, stakeholders readily agreed that the major problem with the Super Falcons in Morocco arose from poor preparation.

Recall that the 2026 WAFCON had originally been scheduled for March and April before being postponed, forcing the Super Falcons to adjust their preparation plans.
What followed was far from ideal. The Nigeria Football Federation faced difficulties securing suitable opposition for friendly matches, while a planned friendly against Ghana was cancelled.

Nigeria eventually opened their pre-tournament camp in Morocco only around two weeks before the competition.

The team’s experienced winger, Francesca Ordega, highlighted this challenge before the tournament. In an interview as seen by our correspondent, Ordega, who has represented Nigeria at four previous Women’s World Cup tournaments, was particularly direct when asked whether the Super Falcons had prepared adequately.

“Of course not. Of course not. I think it’s something we really need to talk about,” the 32-year-old said as per ESPN.

The veteran forward explained why preparation should have been treated as a priority.

“If you’re coming for a WAFCON, World Cup competition or qualification, you have to prepare because everyone is coming here (with the) World Cup as everyone’s target,” she said.

On her own, Hulayat Motunrayo Omidiran, a former member of the NFF Executive Board and proprietor of Omidiran Babes, admitted the pain of exiting the WAFCON at the quarterfinal, however, charging Nigerians not to lose hope.

Omidiran, the Executive Chairman of the Federal Character Commission (FCC), made the call in a statement signed by the FCC spokesperson, Ademola Lawrence, earlier in the week in Abuja.

She charged the Super Falcons to pick themselves up, acknowledging their earlier achievements for the country.

“As difficult as the WAFCON exit may be, this is not the time to lose hope. Football presents challenges, but champions are defined by how they respond to setbacks.

“The Super Falcons must pick themselves up, remain united and fight for the opportunity that lies ahead,” Omidiran said.

“The Super Falcons have made Nigerians proud on countless occasions. One defeat does not erase their achievements or diminish their place in our football history.

“We must stand behind them now, just as we have celebrated them in victory. I believe they can bounce back stronger and secure the result Nigeria needs,” she said.

Wale Salami, a sports investment executive in OmniAfrica, decried the exit of the serial WAFCON winners, noting that it was a pointer that the Falcons had lost their spark.

“They have lost their spark, the team lost the first match to debutant Malawi, a team that we thought will be a walk in the park.”

He sounded a note of warning to see that other countries are closing in on the ten times African champions.

“It is high time we stopped thinking Super Falcons will continue to dominate women football in Africa, while others standby and watch them, so they better up their games.

“Now, Cameroon have overcome them and  thrown Falcons’ performance into the dust bin of history.

“The onus is on NFF to restrategise in terms of players and coach recruitment, welfare, as well as our women football league;  in fact the entire women football ecosystem,” he said.