Super Falcons forward Rinsola Babajide has admitted that Nigeria’s failure to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup was painful but insists the team must quickly regroup and shift attention to the Olympic qualifiers, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.
Nigeria’s campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) ended in disappointment after the Super Falcons suffered a quarter-final defeat to Cameroon before losing 2-1 to South Africa in the subsequent World Cup play-in. The results ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2027 tournament in Brazil.
Babajide, who represented Nigeria at the tournament, acknowledged the disappointment while expressing gratitude for the opportunity to represent the country once again.
“Heartbroken to say the least. It really hurts to miss out on a World Cup spot but grateful for the opportunity to represent my country at yet another WAFCON,” Babajide said.
“Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way we’d have liked it to have gone. We might be down right now, but we’ll definitely bounce back, the only way we know how to, the Naija way.”
The forward stressed the need for the team to learn from the experience and begin preparations for their next assignment.
“Time to reset, reflect and work ahead towards the Olympic qualifiers,” she added.
Babajide also appreciated the supporters who stood behind the Super Falcons throughout their WAFCON campaign.
“Thank you to everyone who supported us both in the stands and from home through it all. The journey has been real.”
The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to the Olympic qualifiers as they seek to secure another opportunity to represent Nigeria on the international stage.