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Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil ended on Thursday after a 2-1 defeat by South Africa in the Confederation of African Football play-off match at the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco.
The Super Falcons had missed out on an automatic World Cup ticket after their quarter-final defeat by Cameroon on Sunday, which ended Nigeria’s run of reaching at least the semi-finals at every previous edition of the tournament.
The defeat handed the 10-time African champions their worst-ever finish in the competition.
After a goalless first half, Thembi Kgatlana broke the deadlock in the 56th minute before Refiloe Jane doubled South Africa’s advantage in the 77th minute.
Nigeria mounted a late rally after a VAR review awarded the Falcons a penalty, resulting in Jane being sent off.
Christy Ucheibe converted from the spot in added time, but the Falcons could not find an equaliser.
The 2026 tournament will be one to forget for Nigeria, who came to Morocco off the back of a record-extending 10th triumph last year.
Justine Madugu’s team began the tournament badly, losing 3-2 to WAFCON debutants Malawi on July 28.
The Falcons recovered to beat Zambia 1-0 and Egypt 3-0, reaching the quarter-finals via a dramatic set of permutations, but the 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon ended their title defence.
South Africa will advance to the intercontinental play-off tournament scheduled for November and December, where three teams will claim the remaining African tickets to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
