By our reporter 10.8.2026
For most of Sunday night the Super Falcons players were gloomy, and their coach Justin Magugu remained stone faced after they were defeated for the first time ever by Cameroon Indomitable Lionesses in the quarterfinal of the Women Africa Cup of Nations.
The 1-0 loss meant the Super Falcons missed the automatic qualification slot for the FIFA Women World Cup next year in Brazil, and now they must have to beat South Africa’s Banyana Banyana on Thursday August 13 in one of the two play offs to stand a chance.
Super Falcons midfielder Christy Ucheibe stated that the team must dust themselves up from what she described a “painful defeat” and focus on the next assignment.
“We are very sorry we lost our quarterfinal game against Cameroon…we could have done more to win.
“But now we need to focus on the next game, and we will do our best to get to Brazil.”
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie who had no answer for the thunder strike by Myriam Nyadjou Wamen from a freekick added that: “There is still hope that we will qualify for the World Cup. We have to come back real strong in the next match.”
Coach Madugu was also optimistic: “Going forward, as long as we still have the opportunity, we will not drop our guard.
“We will continue to work, exploit second chances. We will not give up; we must continue the fight.”
It would be interest to see how the Super Falcons cope with the South Africans who had equally struggled in the WAFCON tournament in Morocco. Another defeat will mean that Super Falcons will be going to the World Cup for the first time. They have qualified for every edition.
It was quite obvious the team put the wrong foot forward after they lost their first game to Malawi, the defence was leaky, the passes were hard to come by and finishing was not clinical. It was glaring in the game against Cameroon, though Cameroon Keeper Michaely Bihina was good, there was no solid Super Falcons boot deal decisive strike at goal.
Cameroon's Doudou Ousmanou and Ransiola Babajide tussle for ball possesion.