File photo: The Super Falcons
From our Sports desk, Benin
Nigeria’s Super Falcons and South Africa’s Banyana Banyana weekend, crashed out of the ongoing Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign in Morocco after reaching the quarter finals.
The tournament also serves as the gateway for the emergence of Africa’s representatives to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Now, the two teams have been scheduled to clash in a crucial play-off to battle for a route to the 2027 World Cup.
The highly anticipated encounter has been scheduled for Thursday, August 13, 2026, beginning at 9pm Nigeria time.
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The Super Falcons 1-0 painful loss to Cameroon in their WAFCON quarter-final, ended their hopes of securing an automatic ticket to the 2027 World Cup.
Hence the clash between the two rivals: a stumbling block to the next stage of qualification for a place in the world cup in 2027.
The encounter is being tipped to be another titanic battle which commentators are saying the Super Falcons must win; to keep alive their hopes of reaching the World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria’s defeat to Cameroon meant they missed out on the four automatic World Cup tickets available through the WAFCON semi-final places.
But the play-off route; again presents Nigeria’s second opportunity to qualify for the global tournament.
A victory over South Africa would move Nigeria closer to the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 qualifying play-offs and keep alive their hopes of featuring in Brazil.
FIFA 2027 Women World Cup
Direct qualification through WAFCON 2026
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco (July 26 – Aug 16, 2026) is the qualifier.
Top four teams from the quarter finals go into the WAFCON semi-finals; and automatically qualify for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil.
Algeria, Morocco, Cameroon and debutants surprise performers; Malawi have already qualified leaving the four quarter finals losers to slug it out in a playoff.
From the playoffs, two African teams will advance to the FIFA Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament.
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Intercontinental Play-Off Tournament
10 teams total: two each from Africa, Asia, CONCACAF, CONMEBOL including one each from Oceania and Europe.
Phase 1
The first phase of the Intercontinental playoffs have been scheduled for November to December 2026.
Phase 2
As the second round would hold Feb 2027. Winners from Phase 1 would join the higher-ranked teams.
Phase 3
This is the final World Cup qualification spots up for grabs.
Now, the big question agitating the minds of Nigerians and global fans of the Super Falcons: “Can Nigeria Make It”?
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