The Super Falcons can still qualify for the 2027 Women’s World Cup despite losing out to Cameroon in a quarter-final clash at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Beaten 1-0 following an early goal, the 10-time African champions missed out on one of the four automatic tickets for Africa at the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.

However, they still have another opportunity to be on the plane to Brazil next year, albeit via a longer route

The Super Falcons join three other losing quarter-finalists—South Africa, Ghana, and Cote d’Ivoire—in the continental play-offs.

Having lost to Cameroon on Sunday, the Nigerian team will quickly regroup to face South Africa on Thursday.

Victory over Banyana Banyana will see Nigeria pick one of the two continental play-off tickets.

The two qualifying teams from the play-offs will advance to the global play-off tournament to battle for the final remaining spots.

“The first phase of the Play-Off Tournament will take place in November and December 2026 at a centralised venue featuring six teams ranked based on the latest FIFA/Coca-Cola Women’s World Ranking prior to the play-off draw. There will be two teams from the AFC, two from CAF, one from CONMEBOL and one from the OFC. Using a format which will be confirmed at a later date, two teams will qualify for the final play-off phase,” FIFA wrote on its website about the play-offs.

“The final play-off phase will be played in a centralised location in February 2027, where the two qualifiers from the first phase will be joined by two teams from Concacaf, one from CONMEBOL and one from UEFA. The six teams will be drawn into three paths, with a direct knockout match to determine the final three teams qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027. Teams from the same confederation will not be permitted to be drawn in the same pathway.”

Of all the competing teams across these phases, only three will make it to the tournament in South America next summer.

The implication, therefore, is that the Super Falcons have no room for error if they must make their dreams of qualifying for the World Cup a reality.

Since inception in 1991, the Super Falcons have qualified for all editions of the Women’s World Cup.

In 2023, they lost to eventual finalists England via penalties in the Round of 16. (Channels)

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