The Super Falcons’ shock WAFCON quarter-final elimination has continued to reverberate, with striker Uchenna Kanu revealing the emotional impact of the 1-0 defeat to Cameroon on the Nigerian players.
Kanu said the disappointment was so severe that some members of the squad struggled to eat after the defeat, illustrating the depth of the team’s frustration following its failure to reach the semi-finals.
The Falcons were eliminated after Cameroon’s Myriam Maéva Nyadjou scored the decisive goal in the quarter-final, ending Nigeria’s defence of the continental title.
The result has also triggered an apology from the Nigeria Football Federation, which expressed regret over the team’s failure to progress further in the tournament.
Midfielder Christy Ucheibe also apologised to Nigerians, acknowledging the disappointment surrounding the early exit.
“We gave everything we had, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough. There is no excuse.”
Ucheibe added that the players were disappointed because they had wanted to go further and qualify automatically for the World Cup.
The defeat, however, has not completely ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Falcons will have to navigate the additional qualification route rather than securing automatic qualification through a WAFCON semi-final appearance.
Former Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala has also urged Nigerians to continue supporting the team as it prepares for the next stage of the World Cup qualification campaign.
