… promised that the Falcons would respond strongly against South Africa.
Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has vowed that Nigeria will fight to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, insisting the team cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians again after the Super Eagles missed out on the 2026 men’s tournament.
The Super Falcons suffered a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, ending their hopes of securing one of Africa’s four automatic World Cup tickets reserved for the semi-finalists.
Justine Madugu’s side must now take the more difficult qualification route, beginning with a crucial play-in clash against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana on Thursday.
Speaking to ESPN, Oshoala called on Nigerians to rally behind the team as they battle to keep their World Cup hopes alive, while acknowledging the disappointment caused by the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2026 tournament.
“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,” Oshoala 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.”
The experienced striker also apologised for the defeat to Cameroon and promised that the Falcons would respond strongly against South Africa.
“We are sorry we lost this one, but the next game we will put in more effort and try to win the game,” she added.
Nigeria must defeat South Africa to progress to the inter-confederation play-off tournament, where they will compete for one of the remaining places at the 2027 World Cup.
A defeat to Banyana Banyana would end the Super Falcons’ hopes of reaching the tournament, making Thursday’s encounter a must-win for the nine-time African champions.
Oshoala also acknowledged the growing competitiveness of women’s football on the continent, warning that Nigeria can no longer rely solely on its pedigree and 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.
