Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has identified wasteful finishing in front of goal as the primary reason for his team’s painful exit against Cameroon.
The Nigerian side was knocked out of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON after falling to a 1-0 defeat against the Indomitable Lionesses at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium on Sunday night.
A stunning 19th-minute free-kick from Myriam Nyadjou proved to be the decisive blow that separated the two West African rivals on the night.
Nigeria struggled to break down a resilient opposition, largely due to Cameroonian goalkeeper Michaely Bihina, who produced a series of spectacular saves to preserve her team’s lead.
With this crucial victory, the Indomitable Lionesses have booked their spot in the semi-finals, where they will square off against host nation Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday night.
By advancing to the last four, Cameroon has also successfully secured a direct qualification ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Despite the setback, Nigeria’s World Cup hopes remain alive as the Super Falcons prepare to battle South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in a high-stakes play-in match for a second chance to reach the global tournament.
Reflecting on the painful loss after the match, Madugu insisted that the outcome could have been entirely different had his forward line shown more sharpness in front of the net.
“It was not our intention to lose. If we had been more clinical, the game could have been different,” Madugu lamented during his post-match assessment.
