Ajibade calls for reflection after Nigeria misses 2027 World Cup

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has called for a period of reflection and better preparation following Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The team's hopes were extinguished on Thursday after a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in an inter-confederation playoff.

This loss followed a disappointing run at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, where Nigeria exited in the quarter-finals after a 1-0 loss to Cameroon. That result marked the first time the nation failed to reach the semi-finals of the tournament. The defeat to South Africa also ended Nigeria's streak of appearing at every FIFA Women’s World Cup since the inaugural tournament in 1991.

In the playoff against South Africa, goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Refiloe Jane gave Banyana Banyana the lead. Christy Ucheibe scored for Nigeria, but the late goal was insufficient to prevent the defeat. Ajibade, who played every minute of the campaign in Morocco, struggled to find influence in the knockout stages alongside her teammates.

Ajibade noted that the team must use this experience to improve and prepare more effectively for future tournaments. She expressed gratitude for the journey but warned that the squad can no longer afford to be complacent. She stated that the team must realize they are not invincible due to the increasing competitiveness of African women's football.

According to the captain, the players must demand more from themselves both individually and as a group. She emphasized that the team needs to avoid being lax and must focus on better preparation and consistency to move forward.