Ajibade breaks silence after Super Falcons miss 2027 World Cup
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has spoken out after Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to South Africa in the CAF play-off ended the team’s bid to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The defeat, which came after a earlier quarter‑final exit to Cameroon, means Nigeria will miss the World Cup for the first time since 1991, breaking a streak of ten consecutive appearances. Ajibade acknowledged the pain, saying the result "hurts" and that she takes it personally, but stressed that every player gave maximum effort throughout the tournament in Morocco. She thanked teammates, coaches, and fans for their support, and framed the setback as a chance to rebuild, pointing to the upcoming Olympics qualifiers as the next opportunity for redemption. The loss also ended Nigeria’s record of reaching at least the semi‑finals at every previous WAFCON edition and confirmed their worst‑ever finish in the competition. Ajibade expressed faith that the team will return stronger, urging supporters to stand with them as they work to regain trust and prepare for future challenges.