Nigeria Super Falcons: Players, Achievements, and Road to WAFCON

Nov 17, 2025 0

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 Super Falcons Team

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.

Road to WAFCON 2024

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, after a 3-1 aggregate win over Benin Republic. 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...

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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. 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. 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.

Missed Opportunities

This was a game that could have easily had five or six goals but for all the missed opportunities. 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. 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.

Rising Competition 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.

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.

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. 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.

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. 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.

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Key Players to Watch

The European women's football season may be over in most parts of the continent, but African stars continued to light up the NWSL in June, as the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (July 5-26 in Morocco) approaches.

7 Notable Omissions From Super Falcons’ WAFCON 2024 Squad

Rasheedat Ajibade: Nigeria's captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, has led the Super Falcons from the front in their WAFCON warm-ups, with the Super Falcons looking to redeem themselves after finishing off the podium in the 2022 edition. Having recently played her last game for Atlético Madrid, she reminded any potential suitors why she is such a valuable asset with a brace in the 2-0 win over Cameroon and another goal in the 3-1 victory over Ghana.
Temwa Chawinga: Last season's NWSL top scorer remains in the running for a second straight Golden Boot, having netted twice in June to finish the month joint-second in the standings.
Barbra Banda: Banda, who will captain Zambia at the WAFCON, sits level with Chawinga on eight NWSL goals. In June, she found the back of the net in the Pride's 1-0 win over Bay FC - scoring in the 58th minute to clinch three points against international teammate Racheal Kundananji.
Chiamaka Nnadozie: After speculation linking her with fellow FA Women's Super League (WSL) club Everton, Nnadozie's transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion from Paris FC was confirmed in June. This alone would have made it a month to remember for her, but she capped it off with clean sheets in the 2-0 win over Cameroon and the 0-0 draw with Portugal.
Uchenna Kanu: Racing Louisville had an impressive month in June, with wins over Utah Royals and Orlando Pride. Kanu got on the scoresheet, but her goal came in their only defeat of the month - a 4-2 loss to the Kansas City Current in which Chawinga also scored.
Gift Monday: In June, Monday scored her fourth goal of the NWSL season as she netted the Spirit's third in a 3-1 win over North Carolina Courage.
Chinwendu Ihezuo: She scored the opener for Nigeria in their 3-1 win over Ghana.
Asisat Oshoala: Oshoala has yet to score in the current NWSL campaign for Bay FC but regained her scoring touch for Nigeria in their warm-up win over Ghana, scoring from the penalty spot.
Jermaine Seoposenwe: Seoposenwe will be playing her last international tournament for Banyana Banyana at this year's WAFCON. During the build-up to it, she has already given them a reminder of why she has been so important to them over the years, scoring in the 2-0 win over Zambia in South Africa's final #ThreeNations Challenge match.
Bongeka Gamede: Gamede was the other scorer in Banyana's 2-0 win over Zambia.

Recurring Issues

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.

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.

Here's a table summarizing the key details of some of the players mentioned:

Player Name	Current Club	Position	Key Achievements
Rasheedat Ajibade	Free agent	Forward	Led Super Falcons in WAFCON warm-ups
Temwa Chawinga	Kansas City Current	Forward	NWSL Top Scorer (previous season)
Barbra Banda	Orlando Pride	Forward	Captain of Zambia at WAFCON
Chiamaka Nnadozie	Brighton & Hove Albion	Goalkeeper	Confirmed transfer to Brighton & Hove Albion
Uchenna Kanu	Racing Louisville FC	Forward	Scored in a defeat against Kansas City Current
Gift Monday	Washington Spirit	Forward	Scored her fourth goal of the NWSL season
Chinwendu Ihezuo	Pachuca	Forward	Opener for Nigeria against Ghana
Asisat Oshoala	Bay FC	Forward	Six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year
Jermaine Seoposenwe	CF Monterrey	Forward	Important player for Banyana Banyana
Bongeka Gamede	FC Nordsjælland	Defender	Scorer in Banyana's win over Zambia