By Sunday Ameh
The Super Falcons of Nigeria have failed to qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup after losing 2-1 to South Africa in their continental playoff on Thursday at the Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca, Morocco.
The defeat means Nigeria will miss the Women’s World Cup for the first time since the tournament began in 1991.
The Falcons’ hopes of securing an automatic ticket to the World Cup had already suffered a major setback after they lost 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-final of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Only the four teams that reached the WAFCON semi-finals secured automatic qualification slots for African countries.
The four teams that lost in the quarter-finals were subsequently given another opportunity to qualify through the inter-confederation playoffs for the remaining three World Cup tickets.
Nigeria were drawn against South Africa in the playoff, but the Falcons failed to take advantage of the opportunity.
South Africa took control of the encounter after the break, scoring twice in quick succession.
Thembi Kgatlana opened the scoring before Refiloe Jane added a second goal to put Banyana Banyana in a commanding position.
The Falcons, however, fought back and pulled one goal back through Christy Ucheibe late in the match.
Nigeria pushed forward in search of an equaliser that would have taken the encounter into extra time, but South Africa held on to secure the victory.
The result sends Banyana Banyana into the first phase of the inter-confederation playoffs for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be hosted by Brazil in June next year.
For Nigeria, the defeat marks a historic setback as the Super Falcons, who have been ever-present at the Women’s World Cup since its inception, will now miss the tournament for the first time.
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