THE Super Falcons of Nigeria will not be at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after the defending Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) champions fell 2-1 to South Africa in the continent’s play-off for the tournament.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that Nigeria, who lost to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 WAFCON, got a lifeline through the play-offs but failed to make the most of the opportunity on Thursday, as South Africa had the better of the perennial African champions to claim one of the continent’s tickets to the intercontinental play-offs.
The defeat means it will be the first time Nigeria will miss the Women’s World Cup since the inception of the tournament in 1991.
The Super Falcons went into the clash against South Africa needing victory to advance to the next stage of the qualification race — the intercontinental play-offs.
Two tickets were up for grabs, with the four losing quarter-finalists at the 2027 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) battling for places in the intercontinental play-offs.
Ghana had already defeated Côte d’Ivoire to pick one of the tickets, while South Africa secured the other after defeating Nigeria 2-1.
Nigeria’s exit comes after a disappointing WAFCON campaign in which the record African champions were knocked out by Cameroon in the quarter-finals, although they were handed another opportunity to keep their World Cup hopes alive through the play-off route.
Meanwhile, Cameroon will face giant-killer Malawi in the final of the WAFCON after defeating hosts Morocco 3-1 on penalties following a 0-0 draw after extra time.
Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world, are 116 places below the pre-WAFCON favourites and record 10-time champions Nigeria, who bowed out in the quarter-finals.
Apart from Nigeria, the only other countries to have won the WAFCON title since its debut in 1998 are Equatorial Guinea, who have won it twice, and South Africa, who have won it once.
Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup therefore brings to an end an unbroken run that began with the inaugural edition of the tournament in 1991.
