Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has penned an emotional message to football fans in Nigeria following the team’s disappointing exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria’s hopes of defending their continental title and extending their record to 11 WAFCON crowns came to an end after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to eventual champions Cameroon.
The loss ended the Super Falcons’ hopes of securing automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, with the four semifinalists earning the continent’s automatic qualification spots.
However, Nigeria were handed another opportunity to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
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The quarter-final losers were given a second route to qualification, with the winners of two decisive ties advancing to the inter-confederation play-offs. Nigeria were to play against familiar rivals South Africa, while Ghana faced Ivory Coast in the other tie.
Despite the lifeline, the Super Falcons suffered another setback, losing 2-1 to the Banyana Banyana to bring their World Cup hopes to a painful end.
The defeat confirmed that Nigeria will miss the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time in the history of the competition.
Reacting to the disappointment, Ajibade admitted that the outcome has been difficult for both herself and her teammates.
“This is to every football loving fan in Nigeria who has stood by the Super Falcons thus far: This one hurts. There’s no way around that. We didn’t get the result we wanted, and for the first time, we won’t be at the World Cup,” Ajibade wrote on her social media platforms.
“I carry that. I take it personally, and I know every member of this team does too.”
The Paris Saint Germain midfielder insisted that the team gave everything during the tournament despite failing to achieve their objectives.
“I want to say this clearly: this team gave everything. Every training session, every match, every ounce of fight, nothing was held back,” she added.
“Sadly, sometimes the outcome doesn’t reflect the effort, and that’s football. It doesn’t make the disappointment less real, but it also doesn’t erase what this team is capable of.”
Ajibade further expressed her appreciation to her teammates, coaches and backroom staff for their efforts throughout the tournament, while acknowledging the unwavering support of Nigerian fans.
“To my teammates at WAFCON 2026, thank you for fighting to the very last minute, every single game. To our coaches and staff, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, thank you.”
“And to our fans, who never stopped believing, even when it got hard, we felt every bit of your support, and we’re sorry we couldn’t give you the ending you deserved.”
Despite the painful setback, the Super Falcons captain believes the team can use the experience as motivation to rebuild and return stronger.
“This isn’t the end of the Super Falcons’ story. We go back to work. We rebuild. We come back stronger, because that’s who we are,” she said.
The captain also revealed that the team’s attention will now turn to the Olympic qualifiers, which provide an opportunity for the Super Falcons to respond to their WAFCON disappointment.
“We now look forward to the Olympics Qualifiers. We believe it is a chance for redemption and we will rebuild this trust you’ve got in us brick by brick with God on our side,” Ajibade stated.
“Thank you for standing with us. Always.”
The Super Falcons entered the 2026 WAFCON as one of the favourites after winning the previous edition while boasting a squad filled with established stars.
However, their campaign ended earlier than expected, with the defeat to Cameroon followed by the loss to South Africa ensuring that Nigeria’s long-standing presence at the Women’s World Cup will come to an end in 2027.
Ajibade, however, has urged Nigerians to continue believing in the team as they begin the process of rebuilding.
“It is all for God’s glory and we will continue to thank him irrespective of the challenges and circumstances that surround us! Once again, thank you and God bless us all,” she concluded.
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