Oparanozie demands new coach and squad overhaul for Super Falcons

Former Super Falcons captain Desire Oparanozie has called for a complete restructuring of the Nigerian women's national team. She is advocating for the appointment of a more qualified coach and a transition toward younger players following the team's failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Nigeria's participation in every edition of the tournament since 1991 ended on Thursday. The Super Falcons lost 2–1 to South Africa in a decisive World Cup play-off held in Casablanca, ensuring they will miss the upcoming tournament in Brazil.

Oparanozie criticised the squad's tactical approach, noting that the team often lacks urgency and only reacts once they are under pressure or trailing in a match. During the loss to South Africa, Nigeria struggled to establish an attacking rhythm. Thembi Kgatlana opened the scoring for South Africa in the 56th minute, followed by a second goal from Refiloe Jane. Christy Ucheibe scored a late penalty for Nigeria to make the final score 2–1.

The former striker believes the team requires fresh legs to build for the future. She argued that the inability to control matches from the start was a significant factor in the defeat, especially given that the World Cup was a primary objective for the squad.

This failure follows a period of decline for Africa's most successful women's team. Despite holding a record 10 WAFCON titles, the Super Falcons recently failed to reach the semi-finals of the continental championship before losing this play-off. Oparanozie suggests that these setbacks necessitate a new technical direction and a deliberate focus on developing the next generation of players.