File: Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has described the criticism directed at the team following their disappointing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign as unfair, insisting the players remain determined to secure a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Falcons are now determined to make the most of a second opportunity to reach the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing their automatic qualification chance with a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the WAFCON on Sunday.
They must now beat South Africa in Casablanca on Thursday (today) to advance to FIFA’s inter-confederation play-offs, scheduled for November and December, where they will have another route to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria endured a difficult start to their title defence, losing 3-2 to debutants Malawi before bouncing back with a 1-0 victory over Zambia and a 6-2 thrashing of Egypt to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
