The camp of Nigeria’s Super Falcons is still in mourning mood following the team’s unceremonious exit from the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Falcons, failed to qualify for the semi final of the ongoing CAF Women’s Africa Cup Of Nations (WAFCON), which could have guaranteed an automatic ticket for the FIFA tournament.
The Nigerian senior national team were however offered a last chance in the CAF/FIFA World Cup playoff against South Africa on Thursday night, but the Rashedat Ajibade-led squad lost 1-2 to a better prepared Banyana Banyana, dashing their hopes of featuring in the competition.
After their game last night, eyeonthenews.news contacted the ladies to know their next plans in professional and international football.
The information that this newspaper got from the Falcons’ camp was heart breaking, as the players were still in tears at a time their South African counterparts are celebrating their progress to the next round of the playoffs.
“We are not in the mood for this conversation, please kindly allow us a chance to get over the disappointment. We gave our best but couldn’t achieve the desired results, no WAFCON trophy, no FIFA World Cup actions for us! And, everyone is asking what happened to us? All of us are still in disbelief.” That was how the players reacted last night.
Even, Asisat Oshoala, many times CAF Women’s Player Of The Year, who is expected to bow out of the CAF Women’s AFCON in high spirits is also sulking that she would not play in next year’s FIFA World Cup, which would have been her last before calling it quits with international football.
Meanwhile, the Falcons will not forget South Africa’s goalkeeper Kaylin Swart in a hurry, as her heroics foiled the Nigerian ladies’ search for a World Cup ticket on Thursday.
And, for the first time in the history of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s Super Falcons will not be involved, when next year’s tournament is played in Brazil.
Looking critically into last night’s playoff, South Africa’s goalkeeper Kaylin Swart stoutly stood against the Super Falcons and victory in their FIFA World Cup playoff game in Casablanca, the only route left for both teams to continue the race to Brazil through the Inter-Confederations Playoff phases.
It would be recalled that South Africa were bumped in their quarter-final tie by hosts Morocco, while the Falcons were pipped by the odd goal by Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses.
During the playoff, Nigeria opened the contest at the Moulay Rachid Stadium with intent, exploiting space on the break through swift counter-attacking movements spearheaded by Asisat Oshoala and Francisca Ordega.
The Falcons’ most promising opportunity of the first half arrived in the closing minutes before the interval, when Michelle Alozie found space inside the box, only to drag her effort just wide of the target.
Despite Justin Madugu’s side controlling large spells of possession after the restart, South Africa struck against the run of play in the 56th minute through Thembi Kgatlana to break the deadlock.
The Falcons continued to push forward in search of an equalizer, but Banyana Banyana doubled their advantage in the 77th minute through captain Refiloe Jane, who finished off a rebound and watched the ball deflect off the leg of substitute Christy Ucheibe to make it 2–0.
The closing stages delivered late drama in the 89th minute when Jane handled a goal-bound header from Alozie inside the penalty area.
Following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the referee awarded Nigeria a penalty and issued Jane her second yellow card, reducing South Africa to ten women.
Christy Ucheibe stepped up to convert the spot-kick and cut the deficit to 2–1.
Despite relentless pressure during stoppage time, the Super Falcons were unable to find a late equalizer before the final whistle, and are now left lamenting the huge loss.