Nigeria women's national football team

Nigeria
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Super Falcons
AssociationNigeria Football Federation (NFF)
ConfederationCAF (Africa)
Sub-confederationWAFU (West Africa)
Head coachJustin Madugu (interim)
CaptainChiamaka Nnadozie
Most capsOnome Ebi (109)
Top scorerPerpetua Nkwocha (80)
FIFA codeNGA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 34 Decrease 2 (15 December 2023)
Highest23 (July – August 2003; August 2004; March 2005)
Lowest46 (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
Appearances9 (first in 1991)
Best resultQuarter-finals (1999)
Football at the Summer Olympics
Appearances3 (first in 2000)
Best resultQuarter-finals (2004)
Women's Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances14 (first in 1991)
Best resultChampions (1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018)
WAFU Zone B Women's Cup
Appearances2 (first in 2018)
Best resultChampions (2019)

The Nigeria women's national football team, 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; 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.

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

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.

Super Falcons after a training session

The "Falconets" are the country's junior team (U-20), which performed creditably in the 2006 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup 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 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, 2007, 2016, 2019, 2022, and 2023.

Team image

Nicknames

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

FIFA world rankings

As of 9 June 2023

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 Increase 0 41 Decrease 1
45 2022 10 5 3 2 39 Decrease 2 46 Decrease 5
40 2023 5 3 2 0 40 Decrease 1 45 Increase 1

Results and fixtures

The 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

7 April Friendly Nigeria  2–1  Haiti Antalya, Turkey
16:00 UTC+3
Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
11 April Friendly New Zealand  0–3  Nigeria Antalya, Turkey
16:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
Referee: Arda Kardeşler (Turkey)
15 July Unofficial friendly Lions FC 1–8  Nigeria Gold Coast, Australia
16:00 UTC+3 Report Attendance: 0
Note: Behind-closed-doors training match (rolling subs and no caps)
27 July FIFA WC Group Australia  2–3  Nigeria Brisbane, Australia
20:00 UTC+10
Report
Stadium: Lang Park
Attendance: 49,156
Referee: Esther Staubli (Switzerland)
31 July FIFA WC Group Republic of Ireland  0–0  Nigeria Brisbane, Australia
20:00 UTC+10 Report Stadium: Lang Park
Attendance: 24,884
Referee: Katia García (Mexico)
25 October 2023 (2023-10-25) 2024 Olympic qualifying Ethiopia  1–1  Nigeria Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
15:30 UTC+3
  • Amare 6'
Stadium: Abebe Bikila Stadium
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 (2023-11-30) 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 (2023-12-05) 2024 AFWCON qualification Second round 2nd leg Cape Verde  1–2
(1–7 agg.)
 Nigeria
Note: Nigeria won 7–1 on aggregate.

2024

23 February 2024 (2024-02-23) 2024 Olympic qualifying Cameroon  0–0  Nigeria
26 February 2024 (2024-02-26) 2024 Olympic qualifying Nigeria  1–0
(1–0 agg.)
 Cameroon
Note: Nigeria won 1–0 on aggregate.
1 April 2024 (2024-04-01) 2024 Olympic qualifying Nigeria  v  South Africa
9 April 2024 (2024-04-09) 2024 Olympic qualifying South Africa  v  Nigeria

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).

As of 13 December 2023
Name Role Ref.
Nigeria Justin Madugu Head coach (interim)
Nigeria Ann Chiejine Assistant coaches
Nigeria Madugu Justine Pwanidi
Nigeria Makwualla Auwal Bashir Goalkeeping coach

Manager history

Name Start date End date Notes Ref
Netherlands Jo Bonfrere managed Nigeria at 1991 FIFA Women's World Cup, concurrently with the men's national team of Nigeria.
Nigeria Paul Hamilton regarded as the first coach of the women national team; managed Nigeria at 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup
Nigeria Ismaila Mabo managed Nigeria to quarter finals at 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, thus regarded as the most successful coach; led Nigeria to 2000 Olympics and 2004 Olympics
Nigeria Samuel Okpodu 2002 managed Nigeria at 2003 FIFA Women's World Cup
Godwin Izilien managed Nigeria to win 2004 African Women's Championship
Nigeria Ntiero Effiom managed Nigeria at 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup; led Nigeria to win 2003 All-Africa Games
Nigeria Joseph Ladipo managed Nigeria at 2008 Olympics; led Nigeria to win 2007 All-Africa Games; managed Nigeria to third-place finish at 2008 African Women's Championship
Nigeria Uche Eucharia October 2011 managed Nigeria to win 2010 African Women's Championship; managed Nigeria at 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
Nigeria Kadiri Ikhana April 2012 November 2012 led Nigeria to fourth place at 2012 African Women's Championship
Nigeria Edwin Okon June 2015 managed Nigeria to win 2014 African Women's Championship; managed Nigeria at 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup
Nigeria Christopher Danjuma September 2015 led Nigeria to fourth place at 2015 All-Africa Games
Nigeria Florence Omagbemi February 2016 December 2016 led Nigeria to win 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations
Sweden Thomas Dennerby January 2018 October 2019 led Nigeria to win at 2019 WAFU Zone B Women's Cup
United States Randy Waldrum 2020 October 2023
Nigeria Justin Madugu November 2023 Interim Coach

Players

Current squad

The following players were named to the squad for the 2024 WAFCOn qualification 2nd Round against  Cape Verde in December 2023.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
16 1GK Chiamaka Nnadozie (2000-12-08) 8 December 2000 (age 23) France Paris FC
1 1GK Tochukwu Oluehi (1987-05-02) 2 May 1987 (age 36) Turkey Hakkarigücü Spor FC
1GK Christiana Obia

3 2DF Osinachi Ohale (1991-12-21) 21 December 1991 (age 32) Mexico Pachuca
2DF Glory Edet
2DF Rihanat Kasali
14 2DF Oluwatosin Demehin (2002-03-13) 13 March 2002 (age 21) France Reims
2DF Akudo Ogbonna (2000-04-09) 9 April 2000 (age 23) Nigeria Rivers Angels
20 2DF Rofiat Imuran (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 (age 19) France Reims

18 3MF Halimatu Ayinde (1995-05-16) 16 May 1995 (age 28) Sweden Rosengård
7 3MF Peace Efih Portugal
10 3MF Christy Ucheibe (2000-12-25) 25 December 2000 (age 23) Portugal Benfica
15 3MF Rasheedat Ajibade (1999-12-08) 8 December 1999 (age 24) Spain Atlético Madrid
13 3MF Deborah Abiodun (2003-11-02) 2 November 2003 (age 20) Nigeria Rivers Angels
7 3MF Toni Payne (1995-04-22) 22 April 1995 (age 28) Spain Sevilla
19 3MF Onyi Echegini (2001-03-22) 22 March 2001 (age 22) United States Florida State University

4FW Rinsola Babajide (1998-06-17) 17 June 1998 (age 25) Spain UDG Tenerife
21 4FW Esther Okoronkwo (1997-03-27) 27 March 1997 (age 26) France Saint-Étienne
8 4FW Asisat Oshoala (1994-10-09) 9 October 1994 (age 29) United States Bay FC
12 4FW Uchenna Kanu (1997-06-20) 20 June 1997 (age 26) United States Racing Louisville FC
11 4FW Gift Monday (2001-12-09) 9 December 2001 (age 22) Spain UD Granadilla Tenerife

Recent call-ups

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

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Yewande Balogun (1989-09-28) 28 September 1989 (age 34) France Saint-Étienne 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
GK Monle Oyono (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23) - - Nigeria v.  Ethiopia, 31 October 2023

DF Ashleigh Plumptre (1998-05-08) 8 May 1998 (age 25) Saudi Arabia Al-Ittihad 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
DF Glory Ogbonna (1998-12-25) 25 December 1998 (age 25) Turkey ALG Spor 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
DF Onome Ebi (captain) (1983-05-08) 8 May 1983 (age 40) - - Nigeria Abia Angels v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 25 September 2023
DF Comfort Folorunsho (2002-02-28) 28 February 2002 (age 22) - - Nigeria v.  Ethiopia, 31 October 2023
DF Michelle Alozie (1997-04-28) 28 April 1997 (age 26) - - United States Houston Dash v.  Ethiopia, 31 October 2023
DF Nicole Payne - - France PSG v.  Ethiopia, 31 October 2023
DF Jumoke Alani - - Nigeria v.  Ethiopia, 31 October 2023

MF Regina Otu - - France v.  Ethiopia PRE, 25 October 2023
MF Esther Onyenezide - - Nigeria v.  Ethiopia, 31 October 2023

FW Chinwendu Ihezuo (1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 (age 26) Mexico Monterrey 2023 Women's Revelations Cup
FW Desire Oparanozie (1993-12-17) 17 December 1993 (age 30) China Wuhan Jianghan University 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
FW Francisca Ordega (1993-10-19) 19 October 1993 (age 30) Russia CSKA Moscow 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup
FW Flourish Sebastine - - Nigeria v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 25 September 2023
FW Vivian Ikechukwu - - Turkey v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 25 September 2023
FW Chiamaka Okuchukwu - - Nigeria v.  São Tomé and Príncipe, 25 September 2023
FW Ifeoma Onumonu (1994-02-25) 25 February 1994 (age 30) - - United States NJ/NY Gotham v.  Ethiopia, 31 October 2023
FW Opeyemi Ajakaye (2003-11-28) 28 November 2003 (age 20) - - Nigeria v.  Ethiopia, 31 October 2023

Previous squads

Bold indicates winning squads

Captains

Records

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

Honours

Intercontinental

Continental

Champions: 1991, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018

Regional

Other tournaments

Awards

Competitive record

FIFA Women's World Cup

FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
China 1991 Group stage 10th 3 0 0 3 0 7
Sweden 1995 11th 3 0 1 2 5 14
United States 1999 Quarter-finals 7th 4 2 0 2 8 12
United States 2003 Group stage 15th 3 0 0 3 0 11
China 2007 13th 3 0 1 2 1 4
Germany 2011 9th 3 1 0 2 1 2
Canada 2015 21st 3 0 1 2 3 6
France 2019 Round of 16 16th 4 1 0 3 2 7
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 10th 4 1 3 0 3 2
Total 9/9 30 5 6 19 23 65
FIFA Women's World Cup history
Year Round Date Opponent Result Stadium
China 1991 Group stage 17 November  Germany L 0–4 Jiangmen Stadium, Jiangmen
19 November  Italy L 0–1 Zhongshan Stadium, Zhongshan
21 November  Chinese Taipei L 0–2 Jiangmen Stadium, Jiangmen
Sweden 1995 Group stage 6 June  Norway L 0–8 Tingvallen, Karlstad
8 June  Canada D 3–3 Olympia Stadion, Helsingborg
10 June  England L 2–3 Tingvallen, Karlstad
United States 1999 Group stage 20 June  North Korea W 2–1 Rose Bowl, Pasadena
24 June  United States L 1–7 Soldier Field, Chicago
27 June  Denmark W 2–0 Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover
Quarter-finals 1 July  Brazil L 3–4 (a.e.t.)
United States 2003 Group stage 20 September  North Korea L 0–3 Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
25 September  United States L 0–5
28 September  Sweden L 0–3 Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus
China 2007 Group stage 11 September  Sweden D 1–1 Chengdu Sports Center, Chengdu
14 September  North Korea L 0–2
18 September  United States L 0–1 Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
Germany 2011 Group stage 26 June  France L 0–1 Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
30 June  Germany L 0–1 Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt
5 July  Canada W 1–0 Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden
Canada 2015 Group stage 8 June  Sweden D 3–3 Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg
12 June  Australia L 0–2
16 June  United States L 0–1 BC Place, Vancouver
France 2019 Group stage 8 June  Norway L 0–3 Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims
12 June  South Korea W 2–0 Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
17 June  France L 0–1 Roazhon Park, Rennes
Round of 16 22 June  Germany L 0–3 Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
Australia/New Zealand 2023 Group stage 21 July  Canada D 0–0 Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne
27 July  Australia W 3–2 Lang Park, Brisbane
31 July  Republic of Ireland D 0–0
Round of 16 7 August  England D 0–0 (4–2(p))

Olympic Games

Summer Olympics record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
United States 1996 did not qualify
Australia 2000 Group stage 3 0 0 3 3 9
Greece 2004 Quarter-finals 3 1 0 2 3 4
China 2008 Group stage 3 0 0 3 1 5
United Kingdom 2012 did not qualify
Brazil 2016
Japan 2020
France 2024 to be determined
Total 3/8 9 1 0 8 7 18

Africa Women Cup of Nations

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
Nigeria 1998 Champions 5 5 0 0 28 0
South Africa 2000 Champions 5 4 1 0 19 2
Nigeria 2002 Champions 5 4 0 1 15 2
South Africa 2004 Champions 5 4 1 0 18 2
Nigeria 2006 Champions 5 5 0 0 18 2
Equatorial Guinea 2008 Third place 5 1 3 1 3 3
South Africa 2010 Champions 5 5 0 0 19 4
Equatorial Guinea 2012 Fourth place 5 3 0 2 8 4
Namibia 2014 Champions 5 5 0 0 16 3
Cameroon 2016 Champions 5 4 1 0 13 1
Ghana 2018 Champions 5 2 2 1 10 1
Morocco 2022 Fourth place 6 3 1 2 9 4
Total 11 Titles 73 57 9 7 223 32

African Games

African Games record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
Nigeria 2003 Champions 5 5 0 0 17 1
Algeria 2007 Champions 4 3 1 0 14 2
Mozambique 2011 did not qualify
Republic of the Congo 2015 Fourth place 5 2 0 3 11 7
Morocco 2019 See Nigeria women's national under-20 football team
Ghana 2023 to be determined
Total 3/4 14 10 1 3 42 10

WAFU Women's Cup record

WAFU Zone B Women's Cup
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
Ivory Coast 2018 3rd 3rd 5 4 1 3 10 3
Ivory Coast 2019 Winner 1st 5 3 2 0 23 2
Total Group Stage 1/1 3 0 0 3 1 17

Other tournaments

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


This page was last updated at 2024-03-05 08:18 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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