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The Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Philip Shaibu, has urged Nigerians to rally behind the Super Falcons ahead of their World Cup qualifying match with South Africa.
Shaibu, speaking in an interview with News Central, appealed to Nigerians to support the team despite their recent struggles, saying the players need encouragement more than criticism.
“The Falcons need us now more than ever,” Shaibu said.
He described the Super Falcons as Africa’s most consistent national team, pointing to their record of 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles.
“They are the best of African players even in Europe,” he said, urging Nigerians to recognise the quality and achievements of the squad.
Shaibu said support was most important when a team was struggling rather than when everything was going well.
He appealed to fans to replace criticism with encouragement as the Falcons prepare to face South Africa.
“In the match against South Africa I’m begging Nigerians, let’s put our support, let’s pray for these girls, let’s support them as we have always supported and let’s stop criticising them,” Shaibu said.
According to him, the players have been working hard and deserve the backing of Nigerians as they pursue their ambitions.
“Criticism should not be what we needed now, what we needed now is to pray for these efforts that they are putting in now for us to go to the World Cup,” he said.
Shaibu, who said he travelled from Nigeria to support the team in person, expressed confidence that the Falcons would overcome South Africa.
The NIS chief also expressed optimism ahead of the encounter, declaring: “I can tell you we are going to beat South Africa. I have that belief, I have that faith.”
The Super Falcons have established themselves as the dominant force in African women’s football, winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations a record 10 times.
Their upcoming meeting with South Africa carries significant weight as Nigeria seeks to advance its campaign and maintain its pursuit of qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons lost 1-0 to Cameroon in their quarter-final on Sunday, losing the chance to defend their title and securing a direct ticket to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Referencing the Super Falcons’ record 10 African titles, Comrade Philip Shaibu, DG of the National Institute for Sports, says the team has consistently delivered success for Nigeria and deserves fans’ support ahead of their FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifier against South Africa. pic.twitter.com/SiiUxDqFPP
— News Central TV (@NewsCentralTV) August 12, 2026
