‘Our best was not good enough’ – Madugu apologises after Super Falcons’ World Cup failure

Nigeria’s Super Falcons have suffered a historic setback, with head coach Justine Madugu apologising to Nigerians after the team failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Madugu took responsibility for the disappointing outcome after Nigeria's 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the crucial CAF play-off match in Morocco.

The result brings an end to Nigeria's remarkable record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup since the tournament began in 1991.

The Super Falcons entered the play-off knowing victory was essential to keep their World Cup hopes alive after their earlier WAFCON quarter-final defeat to Cameroon.

Speaking after the match, Madugu offered an emotional apology to the country's football supporters.

He said, “I have to apologise to Nigerians over our inability to make it to the World Cup. We are very sorry. It was not our intention.”

The coach acknowledged that the team had given its best but admitted that their performance ultimately fell short.

He continued, “We came, did the best that we could, but our best was not good enough. We take full responsibility for everything that happened.”

“We had chances. Still, the conversion was another problem. And we made some little errors at the back. They capitalised on that, and they got the goals. Of course, we will say we have a goal-scoring problem because we have not been clinical.”

According to Madugu, the Falcons' wastefulness ultimately proved decisive.

He added, “We create several chances, but we are very wasteful with the opportunities that always come our way. If we were very clinical... we would have been scoring a lot of goals.”

The defeat represents one of the darkest moments in the history of Nigerian women's football.

The Super Falcons had qualified for every previous Women's World Cup, beginning with the inaugural edition in China in 1991. Their failure to make the 2027 tournament therefore ends a remarkable 36-year qualification streak.