Ex-players warn Falcons ahead Olympics qualifier

Former Super Falcons captains Desire Oparanozie, Patience Avre, and Kikelomo Ajayi have cautioned Nigeria that the team cannot rely on past success alone as they prepare for the 2028 Women’s Olympic qualifiers. This comes after Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, marking the first time the team missed out on the global showpiece since the Women’s World Cup began in 1991.

The loss to Cameroon in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final sealed their fate, followed by a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the CAF play-off, resulting in the resignation of the current technical crew and goalkeeper coach. Former captains warn that Nigeria cannot ignore the increasing competitiveness of other African teams and must focus on building a new era of success.

They emphasize the need for a new football culture, better planning, investment, and accountability. The National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation will work together to overhaul the team's structure before the qualifiers.