Nigeria’s Super Falcons suffered a historic defeat on Thursday after failing to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time. The Falcons lost 2-1 to South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in the first round of playoffs for teams still in the running for a spot at the World Cup next year.
Thembi Kgatlana opened the scoring before captain Refiloe Jane doubled South Africa’s lead. Jane was later sent off and conceded a penalty, which Christy Ucheibe converted for Nigeria, but it proved only a consolation.
The result sends South Africa through to the six-team Inter-Confederation Playoff preliminary round, keeping their 2027 World Cup hopes alive, while Nigeria’s run of qualifying for every Women’s World Cup since 1991 comes to an end.
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