Nigeria's Super Falcons Qualify for WAFCON Amidst Challenges

Dec 04, 2025 0

Just a few months after claiming a record 10th African title, Nigeria's Super Falcons have qualified for the next edition of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a 3-1 aggregate win over Benin Republic.

The Super Falcons, who had won the first leg 2-0 days earlier in the Togolese city of Lome, looked like they were going to run rampant against the Beninoise, but a plethora of missed opportunities meant they could not add to their tally. The win means the Nigerians keep up their record of being at every African tournament, and are also on course to continue their record of being one of only seven countries to have been at every FIFA Women's World Cup since the first edition in 1991. The others are USA, Norway, Sweden, Germany, Brazil and Japan. But to get there, they have some kinks to iron out...

Despite leading the team to that 10th WAFCON title, Madugu has not been offered a contract, and continues to work on a game by game basis. It is unclear if the NFF have any plans to address that situation. Speaking about how Nigeria cannot afford to take any chances going into WAFCON next year, that is exactly what they are doing. Head coach Madugu, who took over the team after the departure of Randy Waldrum, remains in an interim capacity. The NFF have not formally confirmed him as the substantive Super Falcons coach, and neither has he been given a proper contract.

Here’s a closer look at the team's performance and the challenges they face.

Match Highlights and Key Moments

Defender Ashleigh Plumptre was at the back post unmarked to guide in a looping header for her first international goal, as the Super Falcons were held to a surprising 1-1 draw by the visiting Amazons in Abeokuta on Tuesday. They were left stunned when Yasminath Djibril struck the ball high and above goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie into the net from a free-kick on the left, for the equalizer.

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With the tie all but won in the first leg, coach Justin Madugu switched up his starting line-up, handing Asisat Oshoala a starting role, and she was first to threaten the Amazons' rearguard, who had to spiritedly clear their lines after captain Rasheedat Ajibade freed Oshoala within the opening eight minutes. Plumptre's goal came five minutes later. The ubiquitous Esther Okoronkwo delivering the corner kick, and the defender finishing it off.

But the game degenerated into a litany of misses. Oshoala missed narrowly with a header from another Okoronkwo delivery, Alozie also headed just over from Oshoala's cross, Okoronkwo hit the side netting from a free kick, all in the first half.

In the second half, Folashade Ijamilusi missed from close range after goalkeeper Sourakatou Alassane uncharacteristically dropped the ball, and the goalkeeper saved from Ajibade and again from Ijamilusi after a combination play with substitute Joy Omewa.

Super Falcons defender Ashleigh Plumptre jumped and ran through and across the MKO Stadium in Abeokuta after scoring Super Falcons lone goal and his very first for Nigeria. Sharing her excitement on social media after the match, Plumptre wrote: “I’ve dreamed of this moment since I was a kid, scoring for my country. ”It ended 1-1 against Benin Republic, but we did enough to qualify on aggregate.

Concerns and Missed Opportunities

This was a game that could have easily had five or six goals but for all the missed opportunities. Was this just a bad day at the office, or the Super Falcons really have finishing problems? Omewa is a prolific club scorer, Ihezuo leads the CONCACAF W Champions League scoring, Ijamilusi is a deadly finisher, and Asisat is, well Asisat.

That is plenty of firepower upfront for the African champions to not have come away from this with a blow out win and should be a matter of concern for Madugu going into the WAFCON next year.

Benin showed how dangerous they could be in the first leg, especially with the pace and strength of Yenidou Gandonou, who looked more than menacing in the first leg, testing Nnadozie at least twice and hitting the woodwork once. This time, she forced more saves from the Brighton & Hove stopper. But she was not alone in testing the Nigerian goaltender, who had to stretch full length to push away a shot from 25 yards by Yolande Gnammi.

Closing Talent Gap in Africa

Trying to remember a time when the Super Falcons drew a WAFCON qualifying game at home, against a 'smaller' side, is a near impossible task. Especially when they were not playing against rivals like Ghana, South Africa or even Cameroon. There was a time when the idea of the Super Falcons drawing, let alone losing a game at home was almost unconscionable. When they lost to Ghana at the 2002 tournament in Warri, it felt like the end of the world. But all things must come to an end, and gradually, that dominance has eased.

Djibril's goal was just reward for the Amazons, and they could have had more. They played with no fear, and looked to test the Falcons on transition at every opportunity, and it is no surprise. Like other countries, Benin have also tapped on a combination of players born abroad and those playing in Europe and elsewhere.

While many of their squad play in Benin, the slim majority play abroad, from France (6), to Germany (1) to Morocco (3). That is 10 players out of an 18-player squad. It is a clear sign that the times have changed. Teams are levelling up, attracting more talented players, and closing the gap. It will not be long before the likes of Benin are actively challenging Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and others.

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WAFCON is shaping up to be a fun ride, and the Super Falcons would do well to understand that a place at the World Cup is not guaranteed.

Ashleigh Plumptre's Perspective

The Al-Ittihad Ladies of Saudi Arabia defender also took time to talk about the move to Saudi Arabia. Now 27, Plumptre is a cerebral young woman as well as a talented footballer.

“I was shocked. “I’m someone who goes off feeling and intuition. But I wanted to go out and visit - I wanted to see what it was really like. Like many expats in Saudi Arabia, Plumptre lives in a gated community known as a compound. These residential compounds offer a lifestyle more like Western suburban areas and have gyms, pools, restaurants and other amenities in a self-contained area.

“I’ll give an example. I had been to the supermarket and I had all these bags. I live in a compound. “In the UK I would never leave my car out with the keys in. “Naturally everyone is a bit fearful walking around at night, but I don’t have to check my shoulder all the time. Some of the most notably unequal practices in the country are no longer in place. Women have been allowed to drive since 2018. But the concept of guardianship, or ‘wilaya’, is central to Saudi culture.

But there are several obvious issues in the SWPL. One is the disparity in skill between the internationals and homegrown players. “One of my club and international team-mates, Francisca Ordega, said in Saudi we must do more. The pace is not as fast, so you must think in different ways, and push yourselves beyond boundaries that you didn’t before. Facilities, Plumptre says, are good for players.

Super Falcons: Key Statistics and Facts

The Nigeria women's national football team, nicknamed the Super Falcons, represents Nigeria in international women's football and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The team is Africa's most successful international women's football team, having won a record ten Women's Africa Cup of Nations titles; their most recent title in 2025, after defeating Morocco in the final.

The Super Falcons have been able to dominate beyond Africa in such arenas as the FIFA Women's World Cup or the Olympic Games however. The team has been to every World Cup since 1991, but managed just once to finish in the top two. In 2003, the Super Falcons turned out to be the biggest disappointment of the first round, failing to score a single goal and losing all three Group A matches. They did little better in 2007, drawing only one of their Group B matches.

Nigeria hosted the African women's championship finals for the third time in 2001 which were then canceled due to a severe outbreak of gang induced violence within the Nigerian area, replacing Gabon, which was initially granted the right to host but later pulled out citing financial difficulties, and won it for the seventh time in a row.

The "Falconets" are the country's junior team (U-20), which performed creditably in the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship held in Russia when they beat Finland 8-0 before they were sent packing by Brazil in the Quarter-finals. They were the runner-up to Germany at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. The "Flamingoes" are the country's cadet team (U-17), which qualified for the inaugural women's U-17 World Cup New Zealand 2008.

Super Falcons Achievements

Achievement	Details
Record 10 WAFCON Titles	Most recent title in 2025
FIFA Women's World Cup Appearances	Every World Cup since 1991

The Super Falcons have consistently clashed with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over back pay, unpaid bonuses, daily allowances, and poor facilities.

2004 - Following their AWCON victory in Johannesburg, players staged a three-day sit-in at their hotel over unpaid bonuses.
2007 - At the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the team boycotted training over unpaid back pay after their group match against Sweden.
2023 - Ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the NFF canceled players’ match bonuses and delayed grant disbursements. FIFPRO announced support for the players.