Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Comrade Philip Shaibu, has urged the Super Falcons to put their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) disappointment behind them and focus on securing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The former Deputy Governor of Edo State charged the team to shift their attention to the upcoming World Cup qualification playoff against Banyana Banyana of South Africa on Thursday, 13 August 2026, at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.
“Super Falcons remain the most successful women’s team on the continent, having won the African title a record 10 times. That pedigree should serve as motivation rather than a burden and spur them to victory over South Africa in the first playoff,” Shaibu, a former Deputy Governor of Edo State, stated.
“Let me also appeal to the team’s coaches and the entire technical crew not to allow their spirits to be dampened by the loss [to Cameroon]. Setbacks are part of sports, and the ability to bounce back defines champions.”
Shaibu added: “The players must carry the ‘never-say-die Nigerian spirit’ into the crucial qualifier against South Africa. That same fighting attitude was responsible for Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s football over the years and must be replicated in the next match.”
He called on Nigerians to continue supporting the girls and not lose hope in them.
“Rather than criticism, Nigerians should pray for them and rally behind them as they chase the World Cup ticket, adding that beating South Africa is a task that must be done.”
Cote d’Ivoire and Ghana will meet in the other World Cup playoff at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on the same day — Thursday, 13 August 2026.
The two winners from the playoffs involving the WAFCON 2026 quarter-final losers will feature in the FIFA Intercontinental Playoff for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, where they will vie for the remaining World Cup spots.
Packaged by Lanre Olabisi
