ASISAT Oshoala has urged Nigerians to rally behind the Super Falcons as they face South Africa in a crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off on Thursday, saying the team needs the nation’s support more than ever with their World Cup hopes at stake.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Falcons lost their automatic qualification opportunity after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, leaving the Nigerian side with a tougher route to the World Cup.
Nigeria are among four WAFCON quarter-final losers who will contest two knockout play-off matches, with the winners advancing to FIFA’s Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament, where three World Cup tickets will be available.
Oshoala, who acknowledged the disappointment over the Falcons’ struggles this year, said the players were determined to respond against South Africa and called on Nigerians to remain firmly behind the team.
“The only thing I can say right now is we need their support. The World Cup ticket is at stake, so this is the time when we really need everyone to support the team,” she said.
“We already know the Super Eagles didn’t qualify, so we know what is at stake and we know how Nigerians feel about this. We are sorry we lost this one, but the next game we will put in more effort and try to win the game.”
The Falcons are now in unfamiliar territory, having never missed a Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.
Nigeria are also one of only seven teams to have appeared at all nine editions of the tournament, a record that is now under serious threat as the 10-time African champions seek to maintain their unbroken presence at the global competition.
To keep that remarkable record alive, the Super Falcons must successfully negotiate the difficult play-off route, beginning with Thursday’s crucial encounter against South Africa.
The team’s struggles at the WAFCON have also highlighted the narrowing gap in African women’s football.
Nigeria, who entered the tournament as defending champions and Africa’s most successful women’s football side, suffered defeats to Malawi and Cameroon, raising concerns about the growing competitiveness of the game across the continent.
Oshoala, however, believes the results should serve as a warning and a wake-up call for Nigeria, stressing that the Super Falcons can no longer rely solely on their historical dominance.
“Smaller nations are closing the gap for sure, but it’s also a wake-up call for us to put in effort knowing that there are other people who actually want to win this trophy. So we have to work harder now,” she said.