By Emeka Dennar
Nigeria’s quest to retain the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title came to an end on Sunday after the Super Falcons suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the quarter-finals in Casablanca, Morocco.
The loss not only ended Nigeria’s title defence but also saw Cameroon book a place in the semi-finals and secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The decisive moment of the match came in the 19th minute when 20-year-old Myriam Maéva Nyadjou scored a stunning long-range freekick for the Indomitable Lionesses. Her powerful strike flew into the top corner beyond the reach of goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie.
Nigeria almost responded immediately through Rasheedat Ajibade, whose dangerous cross into the box caused problems, but Gift Monday was unable to connect properly after the initial effort had been dealt with.
The Super Falcons continued to press for an equaliser and came close again in the 28th minute. Rinsola Babajide delivered a fine ball to Jennifer Echegini, but her effort was well saved by Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina.
Despite enjoying spells of possession and creating chances, Nigeria could not find a breakthrough before the interval as Cameroon went into the break with their slim advantage intact.
The Super Falcons returned for the second half with greater urgency, but Bihina proved difficult to beat. The Cameroonian goalkeeper produced one of the best saves of the tournament in the 70th minute, stretching to deny Uchenna Kanu’s powerful header.
Cameroon nearly doubled their lead six minutes from time when Achta Toko Njoya’s free-kick from a tight angle forced Nnadozie into a sharp save, with the Nigerian goalkeeper tipping the ball over the crossbar.
Nigeria pushed hard for a late equaliser and almost forced extra time through substitute Esther Okoronkwo. After beating her marker with pace, the forward fired a left-footed effort that narrowly missed the target.
Cameroon held on in the closing stages to secure a famous victory, knocking out the defending champions and ensuring that a new winner will be crowned at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026.
As things stand, Nigeria will face South Africa’s Banyana Banyana later this week for a place in the Inter-Continental playoff for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
Nigerians React
Meanwhile, some soccer loving Nigerians have reacted to the loss of the Super Falcons.
Some of them are sports journalists, who called for the resignation of the Ibrahim Gusau led board of the Nigeria Football Federation. They cited the failure of the Super Eagles to make it to the recently concluded FIFA men’s world cup in US, Mexico and Canada; the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles, and the men’s U-23 team and all failing to qualify for the global stage and olympic football events.
Some football stakeholders, including former Eagles captain, Chief Segun Odegbami (MON), in a widely circulated article over the weekend, called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene in Nigeria’s football and postpone the upcoming NFF elections, believed to have been tilted in favour of the incumbents.
