Former Shooting Stars coach Fatai Amao has criticised the Super Falcons following their 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off in Casablanca, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes
The loss means Nigeria will miss the Women’s World Cup for the first time since making their debut at the competition in 1991, ending an eight-edition streak.
The Super Falcons fell behind in the 56th minute when Thembi Kgatlana found the breakthrough, before Refiloe Jane doubled South Africa’s advantage 21 minutes later. Christy Ucheibe pulled one back from the penalty spot late in the game, but Nigeria could not find an equaliser.
Amao expressed his disappointment with the result, describing the performance as unacceptable given the importance of the encounter.
“I am really disappointed with the way the Super Falcons lost their only chance of qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup to South Africa.
“This performance is unacceptable considering the fact that this match was supposed to serve as an opportunity for the team to bounce back to winning ways.
“We have to look beyond this result and start to prepare early for the next tournament.”
Nigeria's failure to qualify comes after their quarter-final elimination by Cameroon at the 2026 WAFCON, which had already ended their remarkable record of reaching at least the semi-finals in every edition they had previously contested.
The Super Falcons, who have won the continental title 10 times, will now have to regroup and begin preparations for their next major international challenge.
Meanwhile, Ghana defeated Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in the other play-in fixture to advance to the preliminary round of the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.