Nigeria Super Falcons miss World Cup after 2-1 playoff loss to South Africa

Nigeria’s women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, have missed the World Cup for the first time after losing a playoff match against South Africa in Casablanca. The 2-1 defeat in August marked a historic but disappointing outcome for the squad, which holds the record for the most decorated national side in Africa across both men’s and women’s football, with ten Wafcon titles to its name.

Dr. Victor Ademola, a journalist and lecturer who was present in Morocco during the match, described the evening as difficult. He observed that some players were visibly emotional, with several crying as they boarded the team bus. Others were seen sitting alone or looking at their phones, appearing sad as they processed the result. The article notes that with World Cup prize money increasing, the team risks falling further behind.