Former Nigeria international Friday Ekpo has offered his view on why the Nigeria women’s national football team have enjoyed greater success than the Nigeria men’s national football team.

Nigeria’s women remain the most decorated side in African women’s football, having lifted the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title a record 10 times.

The Falcons have also maintained a remarkable record on the global stage, qualifying for every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991.

Their best outing came at the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup in the United States, where they reached the quarter-finals, a milestone no other African women’s team has matched.

The Falcons also hold the distinction of being the only African side to reach the quarter-finals in the women’s football event at the Olympic Games.

By contrast, the Super Eagles have won the Africa Cup of Nations three times and have featured at the FIFA World Cup on six occasions.

Speaking on The PlayZone podcast, Ekpo said competition in men’s football partly explains the gap in achievements.

“The Super Falcons are more successful than the Super Eagles because we are so many in the men’s game, we fight for every cup but can’t get all,” Ekpo said.

“African men’s football is getting stronger and thicker these days. Women’s football differs from men’s football so we will do our best to equal their own record. We should not be comparing them.”

Ekpo also credited Nigeria’s early start in women’s football for the Falcons’ dominance.

He said, “In African football then, we did not have many countries who were playing or exposed like the Nigerian girls. We started earlier than most of them.

“By the time they started coming up, we have gotten five or six championships in our kitty. Now you can see the Zambians, South Africans, they are coming up so strongly, even Morocco of late, you see them playing as if they are men. They put their acts together. Sometimes I wonder are these ones girls.”