The Nigeria women's national football team,[a] nicknamed the Super Falcons, represents Nigeria in international women's football and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). The team is Africa's most successful international women's football team, having won a record eleven Women's Africa Cup of Nations titles;[3] their most recent title in 2018, after defeating South Africa in the final. The team is also the only women's national team from the Confederation of African Football to have reached the quarterfinals in both the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Summer Olympics.
 | |||
| Nickname(s) | Super Falcons | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Association | Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) | ||
| Confederation | CAF (Africa) | ||
| Sub-confederation | WAFU (West Africa) | ||
| Head coach | Randy Waldrum | ||
| Captain | Chiamaka Nnadozie | ||
| Most caps | Onome Ebi (109) | ||
| Top scorer | Perpetua Nkwocha (80)[1] | ||
| FIFA code | NGA | ||
| |||
| FIFA ranking | |||
| Current | 36  (16 August 2024)[2] | ||
| Highest | 23 (July – August 2003; August 2004; March 2005) | ||
| Lowest | 46 (August 2022) | ||
| First international | |||
 Nigeria 5–1 Ghana  (Nigeria; 16 February 1991) | |||
| Biggest win | |||
Nigeria 15–0 Niger  (Ivory Coast; 11 May 2019) | |||
| Biggest defeat | |||
 Norway 8–0 Nigeria (Karlstad, Sweden; 6 June 1995)  Germany 8–0 Nigeria (Leverkusen, Germany; 25 November 2010)  France 8–0 Nigeria (Le Mans, France; 6 April 2018) | |||
| World Cup | |||
| Appearances | 9 (first in 1991) | ||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (1999) | ||
| Olympic Games | |||
| Appearances | 4 (first in 2000) | ||
| Best result | Quarter-finals (2004) | ||
| Women's Africa Cup of Nations | |||
| Appearances | 14 (first in 1991) | ||
| Best result | Champions (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018) | ||
| WAFU Zone B Women's Cup | |||
| Appearances | 2 (first in 2018) | ||
| Best result | Champions (2019) | ||
Medal record | |||
They are also one of the few teams in the world and only African team to have qualified for every edition of the FIFA Women's World Cup, with their best performance at the 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup where they reached the quarterfinals.
History
editThis section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
They won the first seven African championships, and through their first 20 years lost only five games to African competition: 12 December 2002 to Ghana in Warri, 3 June 2007 at Algeria, 12 August 2007 to Ghana in an Olympic qualifier, 25 November 2008 at Equatorial Guinea in the semis of the 2008 Women's African Football Championship and May 2011 at Ghana in an All Africa Games qualification match.
The Super Falcons have been able to dominate beyond Africa in such arenas as the FIFA Women's World Cup or the Olympic Games however. The team has been to every World Cup since 1991, but managed just once to finish in the top two. In 2003, the Super Falcons turned out to be the biggest disappointment of the first round, failing to score a single goal and losing all three Group A matches. They did little better in 2007, drawing only one of their Group B matches. However, they faced the group of death in both 2003 and 2007, grouped both times with rising Asian power North Korea, traditional European power Sweden, and a historic women's superpower in the USA.
Nigeria hosted the African women's championship finals for the third time in 2001 which were then canceled due to a severe outbreak of gang induced violence within the Nigerian area, replacing Gabon, which was initially granted the right to host but later pulled out citing financial difficulties, and won it for the seventh time in a row. Nigeria's Super Falcons and Ghana's Black Queens represented Africa in China for the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup.
The "Falconets" are the country's junior team (U-20), which performed creditably in the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Championship held in Russia when they beat Finland 8–0 before they were sent packing by Brazil in the Quarter-finals. They were the runner-up to Germany at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. Nigeria also played in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup held in Canada and lost to Germany in the finals 0–1, Asisat Oshoala got both the golden ball and golden boot.
The "Flamingoes" are the country's cadet team (U-17), which qualified for the inaugural women's U-17 World Cup New Zealand 2008. Nigeria qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup where they were placed in Group A with South Korea, Norway and hosts France.
Labour disputes
editThe Super Falcons have engaged in multiple disputes with the NFF over back pay, unpaid bonuses and bonus amounts, tournament preparation, and facilities, including sit-in protests, training boycotts, or threats to boycott matches in 2004,[4][5] 2007,[6] 2016,[7] 2019,[8][9] 2022,[10][11] and 2023.[12][13]
Team image
editNicknames
editThe Nigeria women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Super Falcons".
FIFA world rankings
edit- As of 9 June 2023[14]
Worst Ranking Best Ranking Worst Mover Best Mover
| Nigeria's FIFA world rankings | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Year | Matches played |
Won | Lost | Drawn | Best | Worst | ||||
| Rank | Move | Rank | Move | ||||||||
| 41 | 2021 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 37 |  0
|
41 |  1
| ||
| 45 | 2022 | 10 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 39 | 2
|
46 | 5
| ||
| 40 | 2023 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 1
|
45 | 1
| ||
Results and fixtures
editThe following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.
- Legend
Win Draw Lose Fixture
2023
edit| 31 October 2024 Olympic qualifying | Nigeria | 4–0 (5–1 agg.) |  Ethiopia | Abuja, Nigeria |
| Stadium: Moshood Abiola National Stadium | ||||
| Note: Nigeria won 5–1 on aggregate | ||||
| 30 November 2023 2024 AFWCON qualification Second round 1st leg | Nigeria | 5–0 |  Cape Verde | Lagos, Nigeria |
| 16:00 UTC+1 | Report (NFF) | Stadium: Onikan Stadium |
| 5 December 2023 2024 AFWCON qualification Second round 2nd leg | Cape Verde | 1–2 (1–7 agg.) | Nigeria | Praia |
|
Stadium: Estádio Nacional de Cabo Verde | |||
| Note: Nigeria won 7–1 on aggregate. | ||||
2024
edit| 23 February 2024 2024 Olympic qualifying | Cameroon  | 0–0 | Nigeria | Douala Cameroon |
| Stadium: Stade de la Réunification |
| 26 February 2024 2024 Olympic qualifying | Nigeria | 1–0 (1–0 agg.) | Cameroon | Abuja,Nigeria |
|
Stadium: Moshood Abiola National Stadium | |||
| Note: Nigeria won 1–0 on aggregate. | ||||
| 5 April 2024 2024 Olympic qualifying | Nigeria | 1–0 |  South Africa | Abuja,Nigeria |
| 17:00 UTC+1 | Report | Stadium: MKO Abiola Stadium Referee: Ghada Mehat (Algeria) |
| 9 April 2024 2024 Olympic qualifying | South Africa | 0–0 (0–1 agg.) | Nigeria | Pretoria ,South Africa |
| 19:30 UTC+2 | Report | Stadium: Loftus Versfeld Stadium Referee: Dorsaf Ganouati (Tunisia) | ||
| Note: Nigeria won 1–0 on aggregate. | ||||
| 25 July 2024 2024 Olympic Games GS | Nigeria | 0–1 |  Brazil | Bordeaux, France |
| Stadium: Stade de Bordeaux |
| 28 July 2024 2024 Olympic Games GS | Spain  | 1–0 | Nigeria | Nantes, France |
| 19:00 | Report | Stadium: Stade de la Beaujoire |
| 31 July 2024 2024 Olympic Games GS | Japan  | 3–1 | Nigeria | Nantes, France |
| Stadium: Stade de la Beaujoire |
| 26 October 2024 Friendly | Nigeria | 2–0 |  Algeria | Lagos, Nigeria |
| 16:00 UTC+1 | Ajibade  24', 45+2' |
Report (FAF) | Stadium: Remo Stars Stadium |
Coaching staff
editCurrent coaching staff
editOn 11 July 2023, the coaching squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).[15]
- As of 13 December 2023
| Name | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
 Randy Waldrum
|
Head coach | |
| Ben Waldrum
|
Associate Head coach | |
| Jesse Goleman
|
Assistant coaches | |
| Lauren Gregg
|
||
| Makwualla Auwal Bashir
|
Goalkeeping coach |
Manager history
edit| Name | Start date | End date | Notes | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Jo Bonfrere
|
managed Nigeria at 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, concurrently with the men's national team of Nigeria.[16] | |||
| Paul Hamilton
|
regarded as the first coach of the women national team; managed Nigeria at 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup[17][18] | |||
| Ismaila Mabo
|
managed Nigeria to quarter finals at 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, thus regarded as the most successful coach;[19][20] led Nigeria to 2000 Olympics and 2004 Olympics | |||
| Samuel Okpodu
|
2002 | managed Nigeria at 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup | ||
| Godwin Izilien | managed Nigeria to win 2004 African Women's Championship[21] | |||
| Ntiero Effiom
|
managed Nigeria at 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup; led Nigeria to win 2003 All-Africa Games[22] | |||
| Joseph Ladipo
|
managed Nigeria at 2008 Olympics; led Nigeria to win 2007 All-Africa Games;[23] managed Nigeria to third-place finish at 2008 African Women's Championship[24][25] | |||
| Uche Eucharia
|
October 2011 | managed Nigeria to win 2010 African Women's Championship; managed Nigeria at 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup | [26] | |
| Kadiri Ikhana
|
April 2012 | November 2012 | led Nigeria to fourth place at 2012 African Women's Championship | [27] |
| Edwin Okon
|
June 2015 | managed Nigeria to win 2014 African Women's Championship; managed Nigeria at 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup | [28] | |
| Christopher Danjuma
|
September 2015 | led Nigeria to fourth place at 2015 All-Africa Games | [29] | |
| Florence Omagbemi
|
February 2016 | December 2016 | led Nigeria to win 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations | [30][31] |
 Thomas Dennerby
|
January 2018 | October 2019 | led Nigeria to win at 2019 WAFU Zone B Women's Cup | [32][33][34] |
| Randy Waldrum
|
2020 | October 2023 | [35][36] | |
| Justin Madugu
|
November 2023 | Interim Coach | ||
| Randy Waldrum
|
November 2023 |
Players
editCurrent squad
edit- The following players were named to the squad for two friendlies against Algeria in October 2024.[37]
Recent call-ups
editFollowing players have been called up to a squad in the past 12 months.
Notes:
- ALT: Alternate
Previous squads
editBold indicates winning squads
Captains
edit- Desire Oparanozie (2019)[38]
- Asisat Oshoala (2019–2022)[39]
- Onome Ebi (2022–)
Records
edit*Active players in bold, statistics as of November 2020.
Most capped playersedit
|
Top goalscorersedit
|
Honours
editIntercontinental
edit- FIFA Women's World Cup
- Olympic Games
- Quarterfinals: 2004
Continental
edit
Third-place: 2008- African Games
Regional
editOther tournaments
edit- 2019 Four Nations Tournament (women's football)
- Third-place
- 2021 Turkish Women's Cup
Champions
- 2023 Women's Revelations Cup
- Third-place
Awards
edit- African Women's National Team of the Year
- Winners: (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023)
Competitive record
editFIFA Women's World Cup
edit| FIFA Women's World Cup record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
 1991 |
Group stage | 10th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 |
| 1995 |
11th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 14 | |
| 1999 |
Quarter-finals | 7th | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 12 |
| 2003 |
Group stage | 15th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| 2007 |
13th | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 4 | |
| 2011 |
9th | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | |
 2015 |
21st | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | |
 2019 |
Round of 16 | 16th | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 7 |
  2023
|
10th | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | |
| 2027 |
To be determined | |||||||
| Total | 9/10 | 30 | 5 | 6 | 19 | 23 | 65 | |
Olympic Games
edit| Summer Olympics record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| 1996
|
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2000 |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 9 | |
 2004 |
Quarter-finals | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 2008 |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
 2012
|
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2016
| ||||||||
| 2020
| ||||||||
| 2024 |
Group stage | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 5 | |
| Total | 4/8 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 8 | 23 | |
Africa Women Cup of Nations
edit| Africa Women Cup of Nations record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| 1991 | Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 2 | |
| 1995 | Champions | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 2 | |
| 1998 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 | |
| 2000 |
Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 19 | 2 | |
| 2002 |
Champions | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2004 |
Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 2 | |
| 2006 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 2 | |
 2008 |
Third place | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2010 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 4 | |
| 2012 |
Fourth place | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 4 | |
 2014 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2016 |
Champions | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 13 | 1 | |
| 2018 |
Champions | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 1 | |
 2022 |
Fourth place | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 4 | |
| 2024
|
Qualified | |||||||
| Total | 11 Titles | 73 | 57 | 9 | 7 | 223 | 32 | |
African Games
edit| African Games record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Round | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | |
| 2003 |
Champions | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 1 | |
| 2007 |
Champions | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 2 | |
 2011 |
did not qualify | |||||||
 2015 |
Fourth place | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 11 | 7 | |
| 2019
|
See Nigeria women's national under-20 football team | |||||||
| 2023 |
Runners-up | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 | |
| Total | 4/4 | 18 | 13 | 1 | 4 | 52 | 11 | |
- 2019 edition of the football tournament was played by the U-20 team.
WAFU Women's Cup record
edit| WAFU Zone B Women's Cup | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Result | Position | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA |
 2018 |
3rd | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 10 | 3 |
| 2019 |
Winner | 1st | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 23 | 2 |
| Total | Group Stage | 1/1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 17 |
Other tournaments
edit| Year | Result | GP | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Turkish Women's Cup | 1st | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | +11 |
| 2023 Women's Revelations Cup | 3rd | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | −1 |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "AFRICAN LEGEND OF THE WEEK: PERPETUA NKWOCHA". Goal.com. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
- ^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
- ^ Diamond, Drew (30 October 2023). "Who has won the most Women's AFCON titles?". Her Football Hub. Retrieved 30 October 2023.
- ^ Oyedele, Tunde (21 October 2004). "Nigeria: Go And Sin No More -Obasanjo Tells Falcons, Splashes N1m On Each Player". P.M. News. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ "Recurring embarrassments". Vanguard. 24 July 2022. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ "U.S. moves to World Cup quarterfinals". Times Herald-Record. Associated Press. 18 September 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ "Nigeria Super Falcons march on parliament to demand bonuses". BBC News. 14 December 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ "Women's World Cup: Nigeria players threaten sit-in protest over unpaid bonuses and allowances". BBC Sport. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Udoh, Colin (23 June 2019). "Nigeria stage sit-in at WWC over unpaid bonuses". ESPN. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
- ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (20 July 2022). "Wafcon 2022: Nigeria women boycott training in bonus row". BBC Sport. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ Eludini, Tunde (21 July 2022). "WAFCON 2022: Super Falcons to train once ahead of Zambia clash". Premium Times. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ Aiyejina, Tana (7 July 2023). "Falcons plan protest, World Cup boycott as NFF cancels bonuses". The Punch. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
- ^ Miller, Nick (14 July 2023). "Nigeria are involved in a three-way power struggle days before the Women's World Cup". The Athletic. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ^ "FIFA NIGERIA WOMEN'S RANKING". FIFA. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
- ^ "FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ squad lists confirmed". FIFA. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
- ^ Anthony, Janine (14 April 2016). "China '91, 25 years on: Celebrating the Nigeria Super Falcons". Unusual Efforts. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
- ^ "Former Super Eagles coach, Paul Hamilton, is dead". The Punch. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ "NFF pays tributes to late 'Wonderboy' Paul Hamilton". Vanguard News. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "WOMEN'S WORLD CUP; Flamboyant Nigeria Plays Exuberantly". New York Times. 23 June 1999. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ "Falcons loss to Ghana, not a surprise – Mabo". Punch. 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
- ^ Akpodonor, Gowon (30 December 2016). "Agony of ex-Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izilien 12 years after Nations Cup triumph in South Africa". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- ^ Sotuminu, Dapo (14 January 2018). "Nigerian national team coaches that died in penury". New Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
- ^ "Coaches react to death of Jossy Lad". Vanguard. 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ Paul, Sam (10 October 2014). "AWC: Can Super Falcons Conquer Africa Again?". PM News. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ "Nigeria/Ghana: 2008 African Women Championship - Super Falcons Begin Campaign Against Ghana Today". Leadership. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
- ^ "Eucharia Uche, Super Falcons Coach, Sacked". onlinenigeria. 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "Kadiri Ikhana Quits As Coach Of Nigeria's National Female Soccer Team, Super Falcons". Sahara Reporters. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "Edwin Okon fired, interim coach Danjuma takes over Super Falcons | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "NFF Appoints Florence Omagbemi Super Falcons Coach". 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ Yahoo News[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Omagbemi out of running for Nigeria role". Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021 – via www.bbc.com.
- ^ admin (25 January 2018). "NFF signs top Swedish coach, Dennerby, for Super Falcons". Nigeria Football Federation. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ Abayomi, Tosin. "NFF unveil new Super Falcons coach". Pulse. Archived from the original on 9 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
- ^ "Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby quits with a year left on his contract". Pulse Nigeria. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "Randy Waldrum is new Super Falcons' Head Coach". thenff.com. thenff. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
- ^ "OFFICIAL: NFF Announce Randy Waldrum AS New Super Falcons Head Coach". MySportDab. Adedotun. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
- ^ 25 for friendly vs Algeria . International friendly. Two games to be played at the MJ Arena in Lagos
- ^ "Oparanozie Reveals Why She Lost Super Falcons Captaincy (AUDIO)". BusyBuddies. 20 June 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ "Oshoala Stripped of Super Falcons' Captaincy". This Day Live. 8 April 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
- ^ Adefala, Tope (31 October 2022). "Maureen Mmadu played 52 official games for Falcons not 101 – NFF". Sports Ration. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
Notes
editExternal links
edit- (in English) Official website
- (in English) FIFA profile