Nigeria will not be at the Women's World Cup for the first time in the tournament's history. The Super Falcons, who had appeared at all nine Women's World Cups since the first was held in China in 1991, lost 2-1 to South Africa in a play-off at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Casablanca on Thursday, according to a report by BBC Sport.
Nigeria had entered the tournament in Morocco as favorites to retain the Wafcon title. Instead, they lost to Malawi in the group stage and were eliminated in the quarter-finals by Cameroon. That left them in a one-off play-off against South Africa, with the winner entering an inter-confederation qualifier for a chance at reaching Brazil.
Second-half goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Refiloe Jane gave South Africa the victory. The breakthrough came on the counter in the 56th minute, with striker Ronnel Donnelly playing an exquisite through ball from midway inside her own half to set Hildah Magaia free. Magaia's cross from the left was met by the onrushing Kgatlana, whose shot had enough power to sneak over the line despite keeper Chiamaka Nnadozie getting a strong hand to it.
Nnadozie did keep out another Kgatlana effort five minutes later, and South Africa goalkeeper Kaylin Swart pulled off a stunning save from Uchenna Kanu's header, diving acrobatically to her left to palm the ball away one-handed. Jane's goal came via a deflection off Ucheibe's outstretched foot in the 77th minute.
The final minutes produced chaotic drama. Jane was sent off after picking up a second yellow card for handling the ball inside her own six-yard box. Christy Ucheibe converted the resulting penalty in the 93rd minute to set up a frantic finish. Swart, already the hero of the match, then saved brilliantly with her feet to deny Michelle Alozie with almost the last kick of the game.
Asisat Oshoala, the six-time African footballer of the year, had a chance to level the score earlier in the second half but failed to get enough power on her shot from inside the six-yard box to trouble Swart. She was substituted shortly after. Oshoala is 31, and questions are already being raised about whether she has appeared at her final Wafcon.
Nigeria has won the Wafcon a record 10 times, and the Super Falcons have long been the dominant force in African women's football. Missing the World Cup is a significant departure from that history.
South Africa now joins Ghana in the inter-confederation qualifier. Ghana qualified after the Black Queens came from behind to beat Ivory Coast 2-1 earlier on Thursday. The four semi-finalists at Wafcon were already guaranteed a spot at next year's World Cup in Brazil.
