Brila FM

Ahead of the in-tournament playoff for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has admitted Nigeria must improve as other African nations continue to invest heavily in women’s football. The 10-time WAFCON winners were knocked out in the quarter-final of the ongoing tournament in Morocco. It is also the first time in the competition’s 28-year history where Nigeria will not be playing for a medal.

Nigeria’s shock exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has opened a painful conversation about the Super Falcons’ preparations, their failure to defend their title and, now, the decisions made on the night that their historic WAFCON run finally came to an end. Among those questions is one coming directly from inside the Nigerian camp.

Former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami has delivered a strong verdict on the state of Nigerian football and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership. Odegbami, one of Nigeria’s most respected former internationals, said the recent struggles involving the country’s national teams are evidence that those in charge of the game have failed in their responsibilities. He stated they must accept responsibility for the country’s recent failures and should not seek re-election.

US President Donald Trump has publicly thrown his weight behind embattled FIFA president Gianni Infantino, warning that world football’s governing body would be making a “terrible mistake” if it removed the Swiss administrator from his position.

The Super Falcons’ shock quarter-final elimination by Cameroon has changed the entire complexion of the tournament. Why because, for the first time in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026), Nigeria will not be walking out for the semi-finals. The defending champions are gone, South Africa are also out, and for the first time in years, African women’s football is guaranteed to have a new continental champion. Four teams remain. Morocco have the home crowd behind them.

Egyptian football icon Mohamed Salah opting for Trabzonspor in the Turkish Super Lig is one of the biggest talking points during this transfer window and the move has left former Nigeria and West Brom striker Osaze Odemwingie ‘shocked’. ‎‎Salah joined the 2021 Super Lig champions as a free agent following his departure from Liverpool after 8 seasons with the Premier League side.

Recently, Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen was involved in an on-field clash with an opponent during a preseason friendly match against Villareal. ‎‎The Nigerian had to be wrestled away from the scene by teammates as tension boiled over between him and the Villarreal player. Osimhen confronts a Villarreal player. Photo | Getty Images ‎While replays caught Santiago Mouriño manhandling the Gala forward, it was Osimhen’s reaction and quick escalation of the tussle that left many puzzled.

For Super Falcons goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie, the pain of crashing out before the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals is deeply felt by Nigeria’s camp but so was the determination to keep going. The Brighton Women’s FC goalkeeper admitted that Nigeria had given everything against Cameroon but simply could not find the finishing touch needed to rescue the game. For 90 minutes, Nigeria’s Super Falcons fought to keep their WAFCON crown alive.

Alexander Nouri once stood on the touchline in the Bundesliga, worked alongside some of football’s biggest coaching names and served as an assistant with the United States men’s national team. Now, his working day involves running three McDonald’s restaurants in north-west Germany.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons walked into their WAFCON quarter-final against Cameroon carrying the weight of a nation’s expectations but ended up walking out carrying something heavier – disappointment. The defending champions were beaten 1-0 by the Indomitable Lionesses, ending Nigeria’s title defence and, for the first time in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, denying the Super Falcons a place in the semi-finals. For coach Justin Madugu, there was no attempt to hide from the pain.