Nigeria’s 5th most valuable female footballer, Gift Monday, has expressed her disappointment after being left out of the Super Falcons squad for the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The 23-year-old forward had been widely expected to feature in head coach Justin Madugu’s final list, given her impressive form at club level.
Reacting to her omission, Monday wrote an emotional statement on X, saying: “Sometimes the hardest moments reveal the strength of our hearts. I have seen the official squad list for the upcoming WAFCON tournament and yes, my name isn’t on it. While it hurts and is a tough pill to swallow, I want to make it clear that I hold no grudges, no resentment. I am hale and hearty, fully fit, and still deeply in love with the game and the green white green.”
Gift Monday’spost on twitter
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Despite her disappointment, Monday expressed her support for the Super Falcons, saying: “Though I won’t be on the pitch with the team in Morocco, my heart will be there every step of the way… You carry the hopes of millions including mine. I’ll be watching. I’ll be believing. I’ll be back. Come on Super Falcons. Let’s fly high.”
Monday’s international career began in 2018 at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in France. She has since played a key role in several major tournaments, including the 2022 WAFCON and 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. In 2019, she captained Nigeria to a historic African Games gold medal, and she was also part of the Super Falcons squad that won the Turkish Women’s Cup in 2021.
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Monday’s omission from the WAFCON squad is a surprise, given her consistent form at club level and previous international pedigree.
Gift Monday celebrates with teammates after scoring (photo credit: Getty images)
Despite her disappointment, she remains determined to make a comeback and will be supporting the Super Falcons from afar. The Super Falcons will be looking to make a strong impression at the WAFCON tournament, and Monday’s support will undoubtedly be felt by the team.
