Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala has called on Nigerians to continue supporting the national team as they prepare for a crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification clash against South Africa.
Nigeria’s World Cup hopes suffered a major setback after the Super Falcons were eliminated from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations by Cameroon.
The defending champions suffered a 1-0 quarter-final defeat in Casablanca, ending their hopes of winning a record-extending 11th WAFCON title and securing automatic qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
However, Nigeria’s World Cup dream is still alive, the Super Falcons must now navigate the play-off route, beginning with a high-stakes meeting against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana.
With the pressure mounting on the Super Falcons, Oshoala believes the team needs Nigerians behind them more than ever.
The experienced forward urged supporters to remain positive despite the disappointment in Morocco.
“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 told ESPN.
Her message comes at a critical moment for Nigerian women’s football, the Super Falcons have never missed a Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991, making qualification for the 2027 tournament particularly important.
Nigeria entered WAFCON 2026 as the defending champions and the most successful team in the history of the competition.
But their title defence ended in the quarter-finals, Cameroon scored the only goal of the match to secure a 1-0 victory and send Nigeria into the World Cup qualification play-off route.
The defeat meant Nigeria missed one of the automatic World Cup qualification places reserved for the four WAFCON semi-finalists, the Super Falcons now have to win their remaining qualification matches to keep their hopes of appearing at the 2027 Women’s World Cup alive.
Oshoala also pointed to the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as an additional reason for Nigeria’s women’s team to fight for their place at the next global tournament.
The Barcelona legend understands the disappointment Nigerian football supporters have experienced following the men’s team’s absence from the 2026 World Cup.
“We already know the Super Eagles didn’t qualify, so we know what is at stake and we know how Nigerians feel about this,” she said.
The Super Falcons therefore have an opportunity to give Nigerian supporters another reason to look forward to a World Cup appearance.
Despite apologising for the Cameroon defeat, Oshoala insisted that the players are determined to respond.
“We are sorry we lost this one, but in the next game, we will put in more effort and try to win,” she said.
The statement reflects the mood within the Nigerian camp, the defeat was painful, but the players cannot afford to dwell on it for too long, South Africa now presents another major challenge, and the Super Falcons must quickly recover both physically and mentally.
Nigeria will face South Africa in Casablanca on Thursday, with the match scheduled for 9 p.m. Nigerian time at the Moulay Rachid Stadium.
Banyana Banyana will also be desperate to keep their own World Cup hopes alive after losing to hosts Morocco in the WAFCON quarter-finals.
That sets up another meeting between two of Africa’s strongest women’s football nations, Nigeria and South Africa have developed one of the biggest rivalries in African women’s football, with both teams regularly competing for continental honours.
This time, however, the prize is different, a place in the next stage of the 2027 Women’s World Cup qualification process is at stake.
The Super Falcons’ disappointing WAFCON campaign has exposed the growing competitiveness of women’s football in Africa. Oshoala has also acknowledged that smaller nations are closing the gap and challenging the traditional powers more strongly.
For Nigeria, that should serve as a warning, history and reputation alone are no longer enough.
The Super Falcons must improve their performance, show greater consistency and make the most of the opportunities that come their way.
Most importantly, they need the support Oshoala has asked Nigerians to provide, the direct World Cup ticket may have slipped away, but Nigeria’s qualification dream remains alive.
Now, the Super Falcons have to fight for another opportunity, and as Oshoala has promised, the team intends to put in more effort when they face South Africa.
