Nigeria’s Super Falcons have failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time after losing 2-1 to South Africa in a decisive play-off in Casablanca, Morocco, on Thursday.
The defeat at the Stade Moulay Rachid ended Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the inter-confederation play-offs and brought to an end a 36-year run of appearances at the tournament. Nigeria had featured in every edition of the Women’s World Cup since its inaugural tournament in 1991.
The Falcons entered the play-off after losing 1-0 to Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), while South Africa were beaten 2-1 by hosts Morocco at the same stage.
The four WAFCON quarter-final losers were required to contest two play-offs for Africa’s two places in the inter-confederation qualifying tournament. The winners would retain a route to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, while the losers would be eliminated.
South Africa started strongly and took the lead in the 56th minute through Thembi Kgatlana, who finished a move involving Ronnel Donnelley and Hildah Magaia.
Nigeria pushed for an equaliser but struggled to turn its possession into goals. Uchenna Kanu came closest when her header was saved by South African goalkeeper Kaylin Swart in the 75th minute.
The Falcons were punished two minutes later when South Africa doubled their lead. Refiloe Jane’s effort from a corner took a deflection off Christy Ucheibe before beating Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Nnadozie had earlier kept Nigeria in the game with a crucial save in the 60th minute.
Nigeria was handed a late lifeline in stoppage time when South Africa captain Jane was sent off after a VAR review found that she had handled the ball inside the penalty area.
Ucheibe converted the resulting penalty in the 93rd minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1, but the Falcons could not find a second goal before the final whistle.
Earlier, Michelle Alozie had narrowly missed the target in the first half, while Rasheedat Ajibade also tested the South African defence with a free-kick.
The loss means Nigeria, who have long been Africa’s most consistent representatives at the Women’s World Cup, will not feature when Brazil hosts the 2027 tournament.
South Africa, however, secured one of Africa’s two places in FIFA’s inter-confederation play-off tournament. The tournament will be played in two phases, with the first phase scheduled for November and December 2026 and the final phase in February 2027. Three teams will ultimately qualify for the World Cup through the play-off tournament.
Ghana secured the other African ticket after recovering from an early setback to defeat Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in the other play-off on Thursday.
Côte d’Ivoire took the lead through Inès Konan before Ghana turned the game around with goals from Princess Marfo and Josephine Bonsu.
With Nigeria eliminated, South Africa and Ghana now carry Africa’s remaining hopes of securing additional places at the 2027 Women’s World Cup through the inter-confederation route.
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