Nigeria's Super Falcons have been eliminated from contention for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup after losing 2-1 to South Africa in a qualifying playoff at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Thursday.
South Africa's Thembi Kgatlana put Banyana Banyana ahead in the 56th minute, with Refiloe Jane doubling the lead in the 77th. Nigeria pulled a goal back through Chiamaka Ucheibe deep into stoppage time, but it wasn't enough to force extra time.
The result ends Nigeria's unbroken run of qualifying for every edition of the Women's World Cup since the tournament began in 1991. Both teams had already missed out on automatic qualification after quarter-final exits at the 2026 WAFCON — Nigeria to Cameroon, South Africa to hosts Morocco — with Thursday's match serving as a playoff for one of Africa's two remaining routes into the intercontinental qualifying tournament. South Africa now advances to the next stage, while Nigeria's route to Brazil 2027 has closed entirely.