Nigeria women's national football team

History

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

The Super Falcons have consistently clashed with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over back pay, unpaid bonuses, daily allowances, and poor facilities. These disputes have resulted in sit‑in protests, training boycotts, or threats to boycott several key tournaments:

• 2004 – Following their WAFCON victory in Johannesburg, players staged a three-day sit-in at their hotel over unpaid bonuses. President Olusegun Obasanjo intervened and paid ₦1 million to each player.

• 2007 – At the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the team boycotted training over unpaid back pay after their group match against Sweden. The dispute was resolved ahead of their final group match against the United States.

• 2016 – After winning AWCON, players refused to leave their hotel for 13 days and marched to the National Assembly demanding unpaid bonuses (~US$23,650 per player).

• 2019 – After their World Cup exit in France, players staged a sit-in protest in their hotel over unpaid bonuses and allowances.

• 2022 – During WAFCON in Morocco, the Falcons boycotted training ahead of the third-place playoff due to unpaid match bonuses.

• 2023 – Ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the NFF canceled players’ match bonuses and delayed grant disbursements. FIFPRO announced support for the players. Head coach Randy Waldrum accused the NFF of withholding salaries and mismanaging funds, which led to internal backlash.

Team image

Nicknames

The Nigeria women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Super Falcons".

FIFA world rankings

Results and fixtures

Main article: Nigeria women's national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

;Legend

2024

• Le Sommer
• Majri

2025

• Kusi
• Ihezuo
• Oshoala
• Ajibade
• Oshoala
• Abiodun
• Babajide
• Ihezuo
• Demehin
• Ohale
• Okoronkwo
• Ihezuo
• Demehin
• Ijamilusi
• Ajibade
• Alozie
• Motlhalo
• Chebbak
• Mssoudy
• Okoronkwo
• Ijamilusi
• Echegini
• Ihezuo
• Okoronkwo
• Plumptre
• Djibril

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff

On 11 July 2023, the coaching squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Manager history

Main article: List of Nigeria women's national football team managers

Players

Main article: List of Nigeria women's international footballers

Current squad

The following 23 players were called up for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualification in November 2025.

Recent call-ups

Following players have been called up to a squad in the past 12 months.

Notes:

• ALT: Alternate

Previous squads

Bold indicates winning squads ;FIFA Women's World Cup

• 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup squad
• 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup squad
• 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup squad
• 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup squad
• 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup squad
• 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup squad
• 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup squad
• 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup squad
• 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup squads ;Olympic Games
• 2000 Summer Olympics squad
• 2004 Summer Olympics squad
• 2008 Summer Olympics squad ;Africa Women Cup of Nations
• 2000 African Women's Championship squad
• 2010 African Women's Championship squad
• 2012 African Women's Championship squad
• 2014 African Women's Championship squad
• 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations squad
• 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations squad
• 2022 Africa Women Cup of Nations squad
• 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations squad

Captains

• Desire Oparanozie (2019)
• Asisat Oshoala (2019–2022)
• Onome Ebi (2022–2025)
• Rasheedat Ajibade (2025–present)

Records

Main article: List of Nigeria women's international footballers

*Active players in bold, statistics as of November 2020.

Most capped players

Top goalscorers

Honours

Major competitions

• FIFA Women's World Cup
  • Quarterfinals: 1999
• Olympic Games
  • Quarterfinals: 2004
• Africa Women Cup of Nations
  • [[File:Med 1.png]] Champions: 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2024
  • [[File:Med 3.png]] Third-place: 2008

Continental

• African Games****1
  • [[File:Med 1.png]] Gold Medal: 2003, 2007
  • Fourth-place: 2015

Regional

• WAFU Zone B Women's Cup
  • [[File:Med 1.png]] Winners: 2019
  • [[File:Med 3.png]] Bronze: 2018

Friendly

• 2019 Four Nations Tournament (women's football)
  • [[File:Med 3.png]] Third-place
• 2021 Turkish Women's Cup
  • [[File:Med 1.png]] Champions
• 2023 Women's Revelations Cup
  • [[File:Med 3.png]] Third-place

Awards

• African Women's National Team of the Year
  • Winners: (2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2024)

1. Competition organized by the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa, officially not recognized by FIFA.

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

Main article: Nigeria at the FIFA Women's World Cup

Olympic Games

Africa Women Cup of Nations

African Games

• 2019 edition of the football tournament was played by the U-20 team.

WAFU Women's Cup

Other tournaments

All−time record against FIFA recognized nations

The list shown below shows the Djibouti national football team all−time international record against opposing nations.

*As of xxxxxx after match against xxxx. ;Key

Record per opponent

*As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx. ;Key

The following table shows Djibouti's all-time official international record per opponent:

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Notes

References

Notes

References

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2. Diamond, Drew. (2023-10-30). "Who has won the most Women's AFCON titles?".
3. Tunde Oyedele. (21 October 2004). "Nigeria: Go And Sin No More – Obasanjo Tells Falcons, Splashes N1m On Each Player". P.M. News.
4. (24 July 2022). "Recurring embarrassments". Vanguard.
5. (18 September 2007). "U.S. moves to World Cup quarterfinals". Times Herald‑Record.
6. (14 December 2016). "Nigeria Super Falcons march on parliament to demand bonuses". BBC News.
7. (23 June 2019). "Women's World Cup: Nigeria players threaten sit-in protest over unpaid bonuses and allowances". BBC Sport.
8. Colin Udoh. (23 June 2019). "Nigeria stage sit-in at WWC over unpaid bonuses". ESPN.
9. Oluwashina Okeleji. (20 July 2022). "Wafcon 2022: Nigeria women boycott training in bonus row". BBC Sport.
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14. "FIFA NIGERIA WOMEN'S RANKING". [[FIFA]].
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16. (11 July 2023). "FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ squad lists confirmed".
17. Anthony, Janine. (14 April 2016). "China '91, 25 years on: Celebrating the Nigeria Super Falcons". Unusual Efforts.
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20. (23 June 1999). "WOMEN'S WORLD CUP; Flamboyant Nigeria Plays Exuberantly".
21. (24 February 2018). "Falcons loss to Ghana, not a surprise – Mabo".
22. Akpodonor, Gowon. (30 December 2016). "Agony of ex-Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izilien 12 years after Nations Cup triumph in South Africa".
23. Sotuminu, Dapo. (14 January 2018). "Nigerian national team coaches that died in penury".
24. (9 May 2013). "Coaches react to death of Jossy Lad".
25. Paul, Sam. (10 October 2014). "AWC: Can Super Falcons Conquer Africa Again?".
26. "Nigeria/Ghana: 2008 African Women Championship - Super Falcons Begin Campaign Against Ghana Today".
27. (25 October 2011). "Eucharia Uche, Super Falcons Coach, Sacked".
28. (12 November 2012). "Kadiri Ikhana Quits As Coach Of Nigeria's National Female Soccer Team, Super Falcons".
29. "Edwin Okon fired, interim coach Danjuma takes over Super Falcons | Goal.com".
30. (18 February 2016). "NFF Appoints Florence Omagbemi Super Falcons Coach".
31. [https://sg.news.yahoo.com/florence-omagbemi-appointed-interim-coach-071200397.html Yahoo News]{{Dead link. (February 2022)
32. (19 August 2017). "Omagbemi out of running for Nigeria role". BBC Sport.
33. (25 January 2018). "NFF signs top Swedish coach, Dennerby, for Super Falcons".
34. Abayomi, Tosin. "NFF unveil new Super Falcons coach".
35. (11 October 2019). "Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby quits with a year left on his contract".
36. (5 October 2020). "Randy Waldrum is new Super Falcons' Head Coach". thenff.
37. (6 October 2020). "OFFICIAL: NFF Announce Randy Waldrum AS New Super Falcons Head Coach". Adedotun.
38. "Super Falcons squad for WAFCON qualifiers". Nigeria Super Falcons.
39. (20 June 2020). "Oparanozie Reveals Why She Lost Super Falcons Captaincy (AUDIO)".
40. (8 April 2022). "Oshoala Stripped of Super Falcons' Captaincy".
41. (23 July 2025). "Super Falcon's Onome Ebi Retires at 42 After 22 Glorious Years". CKN News.
42. CKN Nigeria, Staff. (2025-07-23). "Super Falcons' Onome Ebi Retires At 42 After 22 Years In National Team".
43. Adefala, Tope. (2022-10-31). "Maureen Mmadu played 52 official games for Falcons not 101 – NFF".