Falcons criticism unfair – Ajibade
August 13, 2026 2:18 am
File: Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has described the criticism directed at the team following their disappointing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign as unfair, insisting the players remain determined to secure a place at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Falcons are now determined to make the most of a second opportunity to reach the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup after losing their automatic qualification chance with a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the WAFCON on Sunday.
They must now beat South Africa in Casablanca on Thursday (today) to advance to FIFA’s inter-confederation play-offs, scheduled for November and December, where they will have another route to the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria endured a difficult start to their title defence, losing 3-2 to debutants Malawi before bouncing back with a 1-0 victory over Zambia and a 6-2 thrashing of Egypt to seal their place in the quarter-finals.
The defeat to Cameroon ended Nigeria’s hopes of defending their WAFCON title and winning a record-extending 11th crown, while also denying them automatic qualification for the World Cup.
The Falcons have subsequently come under heavy criticism from Nigerians, but Ajibade urged supporters to recognise the sacrifices made by the players while representing the country.
“A lot of people don’t know what players are going through to come and represent the country. Players put in everything on the pitch, and people will still say what they want to say. It is not fair, and we can do better as a person, as a nation,” Ajibade said during the pre-match press conference ahead of the South Africa game.
“You have social media, but it doesn’t mean you should keep bashing people.
“For us, we have seen all of those things, and we know that all we are trying to do is make the nation proud. We are not going to the pitch to mess anybody up.
“When you see the jersey, we wear the family name, so that is at stake as well. We also want to win as much as you want to win. We felt everybody’s pain, and we felt the support that we got last year. That is what we want to keep doing.”
Nigeria remains the most successful side in WAFCON history, having won a record 10 continental titles. The Falcons dominated the competition from its inception, lifting the first five editions between 1998 and 2006 before Equatorial Guinea interrupted their reign in 2008.
Nigeria reclaimed the trophy in 2010 but surrendered it to Equatorial Guinea again in 2012. The West Africans responded by winning three consecutive titles in 2014, 2016 and 2018 before South Africa emerged champions in 2022.
Nigeria reclaimed their continental crown at the 2024 WAFCON, staged in 2025, coming from behind to defeat hosts Morocco in the final and secure their record-extending 10th African title.
With all past winners out of the title race, a new winner will emerge in Morocco.
Abiodun, who reports Sports for PUNCH, covers different tiers of the Nigerian football league, the national teams, as well as cricket, in the last six years
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