Finally, Nigeria out of Brazil 2027, lose 2-1 to South Africa in Play-off tie

By Harry Awurumibe, Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

The dream of Nigeria’s Super Falcons to pick the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket via the Inter-continental Play-off has evaporated like the early morning dews after Banyana Banyana of South Africa beat Justine Madugu’s team 2-1 in the African Play-off decided on Thursday at Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.

The Coach Desiree Ellis’ wards took two goals lead after forward Thembi Kgatlana 56′ and captain Refiloe Jane 78′ had put South Africa ahead before midfielder Christy Ucheibe scored a late penalty in 90’+3′ after South Africa’s Jane was shown the red card.

With the defeat Nigeria will miss the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals for the first time since the inaugural edition  held in 1991 in Peoples Republic of China as the Super Falcons have always qualified for every edition.

Nigeria is the only African country that has reached the quarter-finals of the global women’s football tournament when the late coach Ismaila Mabo led Super Falcons defeated North Korea and Denmark in the group stage but narrowly lost 4–3 to Brazil in extra time in the quarter-finals through the ‘Sudden Death Rule’ of FIFA then.

South Africa has now joined Ghana to pick the two tickets to represent Africa in the FIFA Inter-continental Play-off later in the year. Ghana defeated Ivory Coast 2-1 in the other match played on Thursday.