Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu says Nigeria must make the most of their final opportunity to remain in contention for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup when they face South Africa in Casablanca on Thursday.
The 10-time African champions lost their automatic qualification opportunity after suffering a 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Nigeria will now face Banyana Banyana at the Moulay Rachid Stadium, with victory sending the Super Falcons into the inter-confederation playoff for another chance to secure a place at next year’s World Cup.
Madugu acknowledged the significance of the encounter and insisted that his players are ready to respond to the disappointment against Cameroon.
The coach believes Nigeria must put everything into the decisive fixture and take advantage of the opportunity still available to them.
“We have a second chance. We have this second opportunity. We are still going to do the best that we can,” Madugu said during his interaction with the media in Casablanca.
“We’re not leaving anything out. We’re going to put in all our best to make sure that we put smiles on the faces of our people because we know what it means to all of us as Nigerians.”
The Super Falcons have never missed a Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991, making Thursday’s encounter particularly significant for Nigeria’s hopes of maintaining that record.
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With so much at stake, Madugu also made it clear that he will select his team based on readiness and performance rather than simply rotating the squad.
The coach stressed that every selection decision will be aimed at giving Nigeria the best possible chance of defeating South Africa.
“For tomorrow’s (today) game, for every game we pick, we pick those that we feel are ready to ensure that we win every match,” he said.
“It’s not just about squad rotation, that everybody should have an opportunity to just play. It’s not about that. It’s about ensuring that we have the right people that will always win every game for us.”
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The Super Falcons therefore head into the clash knowing that another defeat would end their hopes of reaching the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
