The Super Falcons' elimination from the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations has left the squad in a state of deep disappointment, with forward Uchenna Kanu revealing that many players were too upset to eat after their quarter-final defeat to Cameroon.
Justine Madugu's side fell to a 1-0 loss against the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Sunday night. The result ended Nigeria's hopes of winning the continental title and also dashed their immediate qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup, as Cameroon secured a spot at the tournament in Brazil with the hard-earned victory.
Players Struggle to Cope with Defeat
Speaking to ESPN, Kanu confessed that the team remains haunted by the loss, revealing that the majority of the players could not bring themselves to eat after the game. The emotional toll was evident in the days following the match.
“People are still in their feelings,” Kanu told ESPN. “Some people didn’t even come out today for breakfast. Most of us, like myself, I didn’t have breakfast. I didn’t show up to lunch.”
“It was later in the afternoon that I decided to eat something. And it is just the same as some of my teammates. We’ve all been down.”
Road to Brazil 2027 via Playoffs
With the direct qualification route now closed, the Super Falcons will have to navigate the playoff path to secure their place at the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. The team's focus will shift to regrouping and preparing for the upcoming fixtures, which will determine whether they can still make it to the global showpiece in Brazil.
Cameroon, meanwhile, advances to the semi-finals of WAFCON 2026, where they will face the hosts, the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco. The defeat marks a significant setback for Nigeria, who have traditionally been one of the dominant forces in African women's football.
