Former Nigeria international Desire Oparanozie has described the Super Falcons defeat to Cameroon in the WAFCON 2026 quarterfinal as heartbreaking.
A thunderous 20th-minute free kick from defender Maeva Nyadjou was the difference between the two sides, with the Super Falcons dominating the chances and possession throughout but failing to find a way back into the game.
The win means a World Cup qualification ticket for Cameroon, who will face Morocco in Wednesday’s semifinal in Rabat.
As for Nigeria they will take on South Africa in one of Wednesday’s ‘play-ins’ to reach the inter-confederation playoffs for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
“It’s a disappointing outcome, nobody saw this coming,” Oparanozie said in a video posted on X handle of Eagles Tracker.
Also Read: WAFCON 2026: How Super Falcons Rated In Defeat To Cameroon
“honestly didn’t think we were to fall short, to be honest I wasn’t looking at us winning the trophy but the ticket to the World Cup and I don’t know our chances of going for the intercontinental playoffs, what are the chances.
“So I’m heartbroken right now, if we don’t make it to the World Cup this would be the first time the Super Falcons would not be at the women’s World Cup.”
It was the Super Falcons second shock defeat at this year’s tournament, after suffering a 3-2 loss to debutants Malawi in their opening group game.
Meanwhile, Malawi booked their place in the semifinal and also the World Cup, thanks to 2-1 comeback win against Ghana’s Black Queens on Sunday.
By James Agberebi
6 Comments
If we manage to beat SA on Wednesday, NFF should make sure to remove Madugu before the first Nov/Dec Intercontinental playoffs.
Perhaps return Waldrum and his assistants.
That’s the greatest mistake NFF would make at this stage. Madugu is still the cheapest value for money head coach for Nigeria’s SF at this level of African football.
A coach that just beat all comers, including all the white European coaches, at the penultimate Wafcon held in same Morocco only last year (2025) cannot suddenly become a “bad coach” because He lost a knockout match yesterday to a Cameroon team- which his wards outplayed in all departments, except the goalkeeping area where Chiamaka Nnadozie let her teammates and coach down
What do you expect the Zambian FA to do to Nora Häuptle, their heavily paid Swiss “white coach” who did not even qualify for the KO stage from same group as Nigeria.? Note that Maduga had beaten Nora twice within a year with a 6-0 aggregate thumping
Maresca won the inaugural club world cup with Chelsea and 6 months later was booted out due to performance.
If the “simplest” target of getting automatic world cup ticket was not met by Madugu when several former local coaches achieved the same status with even less endowed players, he has no business in the team again.
He should get out
Nobody wants to play falcons is the most irritating comment of his, for me.
Is it me who called up 27 players that are fielded in very wrong positions when he should put round pegs in round holes?
No local coach lost to debutants or have the worst Nigerian defense ever.
Anyway, he knows he’s a goner. Let the African playoff be kind to the players first who even were mutinous against him but were scared of being blacklisted.
Good riddance to bad rubbish.
NFF who want to save face should quickly put him out of his misery this Friday.
If FIFA had not expanded the world cup, we would have not another chance by now.
Elite coaches are kicked out at the first scent of floundering. Who be Madugu wey don break unheard of records.
Make we reward the first local coach wey no play for ANY MEDAL in WAFCON for the first time in 35 years?
Taa
The overall attitude of the team did not show that we are keen to go to the world cup. Though the wake up call sounded yet the team did not rise up to it properly.
Another opportunity is here in the play off. Let’s see how the team take good advantage of that.
I suspect some of the ladies are troubled somehow.
People are asking the NFF to sack Madugu. Hmmm. Is Madugu the problem of the Super Falcons?
Why can’t Nigerians ask the president to sanction the entire NFF board?
In my opinion, I believe that if we put our house in order, then the new set of NFF we hire a competent coach who can have have a younger team rather than the curset of players in the Super Falcons team. Ire o. God bless Nigeria!!!
When you read comments you can tell who the OGs are. We argue over tactics, players, coaches etc., but one thing brings us together – our love for Nigerian football! I’m happy that even Omo9ja, who’s a diehard supporter of anything local is on board to overhaul the entire NFF board.
Madugu and the players and just pawns. Until we get rid of the NFF, we’ll continue to miss out on U17, U20, Olympics and even main tournaments.