By Teddy Nwanunobi
Following the Super Falcons’ failure to secure direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Nigeria’s goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, has expressed confidence that Nigeria will still qualify for the global tournament that will be hosted in Brazil.
As reported by the BBC World Service, Nnadozie said that Nigeria have to “go back to the drawing board” after missing out on automatic qualification for the World Cup.
”This is football, this is life. What happened happened, we just have to keep our heads high. There’s still hope – it’s not over yet,” she said.
The 10-time TotalEnergies CAF Women’s African Cup of Nations (WAFCON) failed to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) in Morocco, falling to a 1-0 defeat by Cameroon in the last eight on Sunday.
By reaching the last four, Cameroon have now guaranteed a ticket to next year’s World Cup in Brazil alongside fellow semi-finalists Algeria, Malawi and Morocco.
It means Nigeria, last year’s Wafcon champions, will now face South Africa in a play-off on Thursday for a spot at an inter-confederation qualifier later this year which could give them another chance to reach the global showpiece.
Nigeria have featured at all nine previous editions of the Women’s World Cup stretching back to the inaugural finals in China in 1991.
The Super Falcons made the quarter-finals in 1999 and progressed to the last 16 at the most recent two tournaments.
Yet, after losing their WAFCON crown, Justin Madugu’s side needs to get past 2022 champions, South Africa, to remain in the hunt for a place at the expanded 32-team World Cup.
”The coach has been cheering us up, and we really appreciate that from him.
”On Thursday, we’ll go out strong. We’ll try to do better than we’ve done (against Cameroon), and hope to get to the next stage of the World Cup. We will go there and make things right,” Nnadozie said.
The elimination of Nigeria and South Africa over the weekend means there will be a new name on the WAFCON trophy come Sunday night.
Hosts Morocco, who have been runners-up at the past two tournaments, take on Cameroon in the last four on Wednesday, while Algeria face Malawi later the same day.