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 coachRandy Waldrum[1][2]
CaptainOnome Ebi
Top scorerPerpetua Nkwocha (80)[3]
FIFA codeNGA
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 42 Increase 3 (24 March 2023)[4]
Highest23 (July 2003)
Lowest46 (August 2022)
First international
 Nigeria 5–1 Ghana 
(Nigeria; 16 February 1991)
Biggest win
 Nigeria 15–0 Niger 
(Côte d'Ivoire; 11 May 2019)
Biggest defeat
 Norway 8–0 Nigeria 
(Tingvalla IP, 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)
Medal record
African Games
Gold medal – first place2003 AbujaTeam
Gold medal – first place2007 AlgiersTeam
This article is about the women's team. For the men's team, see Nigeria national football team.

The Nigeria national women's football team,[lower-alpha 1] nicknamed the Super Falcons, represents Nigeria in international women's football and is controlled by the Nigeria Football Federation. The team is by far Africa's most successful international women's football team winning a record eleven Women's Africa Cup of Nations titles, with 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 Football at the Summer Olympics.

They are also one of the few teams in the world 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 twenty 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 unable 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 eight. 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 2006 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.

Team image

Nicknames

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

FIFA world rankings
As of 17 July 2021[5]

  Worst Ranking    Best Ranking    Worst Mover    Best Mover  

Nigeria's FIFA world rankings
Rank Year Games
Played		 Won Lost Drawn Best Worst
Rank Move Rank Move
3820216321 37Increase 038Decrease 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

2022
4 July 2022 (2022-07-04) 2022 AFWCON GS Nigeria  1–2  South Africa Rabat, Maroc
18:00
  • Ajibade 90+2'
Stadium: Stade Moulay Hassan
Referee: Bouchra Karboubi (Morocco)
7 July 2022 (2022-07-07) 2022 AFWCON GS Botswana  0–2  Nigeria Rabat, Maroc
21:00 Stadium: Stade Moulay Hassan
10 July 2022 (2022-07-10) 2022 AFWCON GS Nigeria  4–0  Burundi Rabat, Maroc
21:00 Stadium: Stade Moulay Hassan
14 July 2022 (2022-07-14) 2022 AFWCON QF Cameroon  0–1  Nigeria Casablanca, Morocco
18:00 Report (FIFA)
Stadium: Stade Mohammed V
Referee: Akhona Makalima (South Africa)
18 July 2022 (2022-07-18) 2022 AFWCON SF Morocco  1–1 (a.e.t.)
(5–4 p)		  Nigeria Rabat, Morocco
Stadium: Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Penalties
22 July 2022 (2022-07-22) 2022 AFWCON 3rd place Nigeria  0–1  Zambia Stade Mohammed V, Casablanca, Morocco
Stadium: Stade Mohammed V
3 September Friendly United States  4–0  Nigeria Kansas City, Kansas
13:00 ET
Stadium: Children's Mercy Park
Attendance: 14,502
Referee: Melissa Borjas (Honduras)
6 September Friendly United States  2–1  Nigeria Washington, D.C.
18:00 ET
Stadium: Audi Field
Attendance: 18,869
Referee: Odette Hamilton (Jamaica)
6 October Friendly Japan  2–0  Nigeria Kobe, Japan
16:28 UTC+9
Report (JFA)
Report (JFA)		 Stadium: Noevir Stadium Kobe
Attendance: 1,671
Referee: Kate Jacewicz (Australia)

2023
15 February 2023 (2023-02-15) 2023 Women's Revelations Cup Mexico  1–0  Nigeria León, Mexico
--:-- UTC−5
18 February 2023 (2023-02-18) 2023 Women's Revelations Cup Colombia  1–0  Nigeria León, Mexico
13:00 UTC−5 Caicedo 5' Report
21 February 2023 (2023-02-21) 2023 Women's Revelations Cup Costa Rica  0–1  Nigeria León, Mexico
17:00 UTC−5
7 April 2023 (2023-04-07) Friendly Nigeria  2–1  Haiti Antalya, Turkey
16:00 UTC+3 Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
11 April 2023 (2023-04-11) Friendly New Zealand  0–3  Nigeria Antalya, Turkey
16:00 UTC+3 Report
Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex
Referee: Arda Kardeşler (Turkey)
21 July 2023 (2023-07-21) FIFA WC Group Nigeria  v  Canada Melbourne, Australia
Report Stadium: Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
27 July 2023 (2023-07-27) FIFA WC Group Australia  v  Nigeria Brisbane, Australia
Report Stadium: Lang Park
31 July 2023 (2023-07-31) FIFA WC Group Republic of Ireland  v  Nigeria Brisbane, Australia
Report Stadium: Lang Park

Coaching staff

Current coaching staff
As of 6 November 2020
Name Role Ref.
United States Randy Waldrum Head coach [1][2]

Manager history
Main article: List of Nigeria women's national football team managers
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.[6]
Nigeria Paul Hamilton regarded as the first coach of the women national team; managed Nigeria at 1995 FIFA Women's World Cup[7][8]
Nigeria Ismaila Mabo managed Nigeria to quarter finals at 1999 FIFA Women's World Cup, thus regarded as the most successful coach;[9][10] 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[11]
Nigeria Ntiero Effiom managed Nigeria at 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup; led Nigeria to win 2003 All-Africa Games[12]
Nigeria Joseph Ladipo managed Nigeria at 2008 Olympics; led Nigeria to win 2007 All-Africa Games;[13] managed Nigeria to third-place finish at 2008 African Women's Championship[14][15]
Nigeria Uche Eucharia October 2011 managed Nigeria to win 2010 African Women's Championship; managed Nigeria at 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup [16]
Nigeria Kadiri Ikhana April 2012 November 2012 led Nigeria to fourth place at 2012 African Women's Championship [17]
Nigeria Edwin Okon June 2015 managed Nigeria to win 2014 African Women's Championship; managed Nigeria at 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup [18]
Nigeria Christopher Danjuma September 2015 led Nigeria to fourth place at 2015 All-Africa Games [19]
Nigeria Florence Omagbemi February 2016 December 2016 led Nigeria to win 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations [20][21]
Sweden Thomas Dennerby January 2018 October 2019 led Nigeria to win at 2019 WAFU Zone B Women's Cup [22][23][24]
United States Randy Waldrum 2020 [1][2]

Players
Main article: List of Nigeria women's international footballers

Current squad
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Club
1GK Chiamaka Nnadozie (2000-12-08) 8 December 2000 France Paris FC
1GK Yewande Balogun (1989-09-28) 28 September 1989 France Saint-Étienne
1GK Inyeme Etim (2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 Nigeria Abia Angels
2DF Osinachi Ohale (1991-12-21) 21 December 1991 Spain Deportivo Alavés
2DF Ashleigh Plumptre (1998-05-08) 8 May 1998 England Leicester City
2DF Glory Ogbonna (1998-12-25) 25 December 1998 Turkey ALG Spor
2DF Oluwatosin Demehin (2002-03-13) 13 March 2002 France Reims
2DF Rofiat Imuran (2004-06-17) 17 June 2004 France Reims
2DF Michelle Alozie (1997-04-28) 28 April 1997 United States Houston Dash
2DF Onome Ebi (captain) (1983-05-08) 8 May 1983 Spain Levante Las Planas
3MF Halimatu Ayinde (1995-05-16) 16 May 1995 Sweden Rosengård
3MF Christy Ucheibe (2000-12-25) 25 December 2000 Portugal Benfica
3MF Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (1993-12-14) 14 December 1993 Sweden Eskilstuna United
3MF Toni Payne (1995-04-22) 22 April 1995 Spain Sevilla
3MF Regina Otu (1996-08-05) 5 August 1996 France Saint-Étienne
3MF Deborah Abiodun (2003-11-02) 2 November 2003 South Africa Bittsburgh
4FW Asisat Oshoala (1994-10-09) 9 October 1994 Spain Barcelona
4FW Uchenna Kanu (1997-06-20) 20 June 1997 United States Racing Louisville FC
4FW Ifeoma Onumonu (1994-02-25) 25 February 1994 United States NJ/NY Gotham
4FW Rasheedat Ajibade (1999-12-08) 8 December 1999 Spain Atlético Madrid
4FW Desire Oparanozie (1993-12-17) 17 December 1993 China Wuhan Chegu Jianghan
4FW Esther Okoronkwo (1997-03-27) 27 March 1997 France Saint-Étienne
4FW Gift Monday (2001-12-09) 9 December 2001 Spain UD Granadilla Tenerife

Recent call-ups

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

This list may be incomplete.

Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Rita Akarekor (2001-02-13) 13 February 2001 Nigeria Nasarawa Amazons F.C. 2022 Women's Africa Cup of NationsPRE
DF Akudo Ogbonna (2000-04-09) 9 April 2000 - - Nigeria Rivers Angels 2023 Women's Revelations Cup
DF Opeyemi Sunday (1999-07-12) 12 July 1999 Nigeria Edo Queens 2022 Women's Africa Cup of NationsPRE
DF Ugochi Emenayo (1997-12-20) 20 December 1997 Turkey Konak Belediyespor 2022 Women's Africa Cup of NationsPRE
MF Onyi Echegini (2001-03-22) 22 March 2001 - - United States Florida State Seminoles 2023 Women's Revelations Cup
MF Amanda Mbadi (1999-01-04) 4 January 1999 France Thonon Évian 2022 Women's Africa Cup of NationsPRE
MF Charity Adule (1993-11-07) 7 November 1993 Spain Alhama CF 2022 Women's Africa Cup of NationsPRE
MF Suliat Abideen (2001-11-28) 28 November 2001 Nigeria Edo Queens F.C. 2022 Women's Africa Cup of NationsPRE
FW Chinwendu Ihezuo (1997-04-30) 30 April 1997 - - Mexico Monterrey 2023 Women's Revelations Cup
FW Francisca Ordega (1993-10-19) 19 October 1993 - - Russia CSKA Moscow 2023 Women's Revelations Cup
FW Anam Imo (2000-11-30) 30 November 2000 Sweden Piteå IF 2022 Women's Africa Cup of NationsPRE

Previous squads

Bold indicates winning squads

Captains

Records
Main article: List of Nigeria women's international footballers

*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
Main article: Nigeria at the FIFA Women's World Cup
FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
China 1991Group stage10th300307
Sweden 199511th3012514
United States 1999Quarter-finals7th4202812
United States 2003Group stage15th3003011
China 200713th301214
Germany 20119th310212
Canada 201521st301236
France 2019Round of 1616th410327
AustraliaNew Zealand 2023 qualified
Total9/9-2643192063
FIFA Women's World Cup history
YearRoundDateOpponentResultStadium
China 1991 Group stage17 November GermanyL 0–4Jiangmen Stadium, Jiangmen
19 November ItalyL 0–1Zhongshan Stadium, Zhongshan
21 November Chinese TaipeiL 0–2Jiangmen Stadium, Jiangmen
Sweden 1995 Group stage6 June NorwayL 0–8Tingvallen, Karlstad
8 June CanadaD 3–3Olympia Stadion, Helsingborg
10 June EnglandL 2–3Tingvallen, Karlstad
United States 1999 Group stage20 June North KoreaW 2–1Rose Bowl, Pasadena
24 June United StatesL 1–7Soldier Field, Chicago
27 June DenmarkW 2–0Jack Kent Cooke Stadium, Landover
Quarter-finals1 July BrazilL 3–4
United States 2003 Group stage20 September North KoreaL 0–3Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia
25 September United StatesL 0–5
28 September SwedenL 0–3Columbus Crew Stadium, Columbus
China 2007 Group stage11 September SwedenD 1–1Chengdu Sports Center, Chengdu
14 September North KoreaL 0–2
18 September United StatesL 0–1Hongkou Stadium, Shanghai
Germany 2011 Group stage26 June FranceL 0–1Rhein-Neckar-Arena, Sinsheim
30 June GermanyL 0–1Commerzbank-Arena, Frankfurt
5 July CanadaW 1–0Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion, Dresden
Canada 2015 Group stage8 June SwedenD 3–3Winnipeg Stadium, Winnipeg
12 June AustraliaL 0–2
16 June United StatesL 0–1BC Place, Vancouver
France 2019 Group stage8 June NorwayL 0–3Stade Auguste-Delaune, Reims
12 June South KoreaW 2–0Stade des Alpes, Grenoble
17 June FranceL 0–1Roazhon Park, Rennes
Round of 1622 June GermanyL 0–3Stade des Alpes, Grenoble

Olympic Games
Summer Olympics record
Year Result Matches Wins Draws Losses GF GA
United States 1996 did not qualify
Australia 2000Group stage300339
Greece 2004Quarter-finals310234
China 2008Group stage300315
United Kingdom 2012 did not qualify
Brazil 2016
Japan 2021
Total3/69108718

Africa Women Cup of Nations
Africa Women Cup of Nations record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
1991Champions6600202
1995Champions6600272
Nigeria 1998Champions5500280
South Africa 2000Champions5410192
Nigeria 2002Champions5401152
South Africa 2004Champions5410182
Nigeria 2006Champions5500182
Equatorial Guinea 2008Third place513133
South Africa 2010Champions5500194
Equatorial Guinea 2012Fourth place530284
Namibia 2014Champions5500163
Cameroon 2016Champions5410131
Ghana 2018Champions5221101
Morocco 2022Fourth place631294
Total11 Titles73579722332

African Games
African Games record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA
Nigeria 2003Champions5500171
Algeria 2007Champions4310142
Mozambique 2011did not qualify
Republic of the Congo 2015Fourth place5203117
Morocco 2019 See Nigeria women's national under-20 football team
Republic of the Congo 2023to be determined
Total3/41410134210

WAFU Women's Cup record
WAFU Zone B Women's Cup
Year Result Position Pld W D L GF GA
Ivory Coast 20183rd3rd5413103
Ivory Coast 2019Winner1st5320232
TotalGroup Stage1/13003117

Other tournaments
Year Result GP W D L GF GA GD
2021 Turkish Women's Cup1st3300110+11
2023 Women's Revelations Cup3rd310212−1

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
  Positive balance (more wins than losses)
  Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
  Negative balance (more losses than wins)
Against Pld W D L GF GA GD Confederation
  1. Hausa: Kungiyar kwallon kafa ta mata ta Najeriya, Igbo: Ndị otu egwuregwu bọọlụ ụmụ nwanyị nke mba Naịjirịa

Record per opponent

*As ofxxxxx after match against xxxxx.

Key
  Positive balance (more wins than losses)
  Neutral balance (as many wins as losses)
  Negative balance (more losses than wins)

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

Opponent Pld W D L GF GA GD W% Confederation
Total—

See also

References
  1. "Randy Waldrum is new Super Falcons' Head Coach". thenff.com. thenff. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  2. "OFFICIAL: NFF Announce Randy Waldrum AS New Super Falcons Head Coach". MySportDab. Adedotun. 6 October 2020. Archived from the original on 9 October 2020. Retrieved 6 October 2020.
  3. "AFRICAN LEGEND OF THE WEEK: PERPETUA NKWOCHA". Goal.com. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2017.
  4. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking". FIFA. 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  5. "FIFA NIGERIA WOMEN'S RANKING". FIFA. 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021.
  6. Anthony, Janine (14 April 2016). "China '91, 25 years on: Celebrating the Nigeria Super Falcons". Unusual Efforts. Archived from the original on 18 June 2020. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
  7. "Former Super Eagles coach, Paul Hamilton, is dead". The Punch. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 12 April 2021. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  8. "NFF pays tributes to late 'Wonderboy' Paul Hamilton". Vanguard News. 30 March 2017. Archived from the original on 31 May 2017. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  9. "WOMEN'S WORLD CUP; Flamboyant Nigeria Plays Exuberantly". New York Times. 23 June 1999. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  10. "Falcons loss to Ghana, not a surprise – Mabo". Punch. 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  11. Akpodonor, Gowon (30 December 2016). "Agony of ex-Super Falcons coach, Godwin Izilien 12 years after Nations Cup triumph in South Africa". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  12. Sotuminu, Dapo (14 January 2018). "Nigerian national team coaches that died in penury". New Telegraph. Archived from the original on 28 July 2018. Retrieved 10 May 2018.
  13. "Coaches react to death of Jossy Lad". Vanguard. 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  14. Paul, Sam (10 October 2014). "AWC: Can Super Falcons Conquer Africa Again?". PM News. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  15. "Nigeria/Ghana: 2008 African Women Championship - Super Falcons Begin Campaign Against Ghana Today". Leadership. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  16. "Eucharia Uche, Super Falcons Coach, Sacked". onlinenigeria. 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  17. "Kadiri Ikhana Quits As Coach Of Nigeria's National Female Soccer Team, Super Falcons". Sahara Reporters. 12 November 2012. Archived from the original on 11 February 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  18. "Edwin Okon fired, interim coach Danjuma takes over Super Falcons | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  19. "NFF Appoints Florence Omagbemi Super Falcons Coach". 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  20. https://sg.news.yahoo.com/florence-omagbemi-appointed-interim-coach-071200397.html
  21. "Omagbemi out of running for Nigeria role". Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021 – via www.bbc.com.
  22. admin (25 January 2018). "NFF signs top Swedish coach, Dennerby, for Super Falcons". Nigeria Football Federation. Archived from the original on 17 June 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  23. Abayomi, Tosin. "NFF unveil new Super Falcons coach". Pulse. Archived from the original on 9 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
  24. "Super Falcons coach Thomas Dennerby quits with a year left on his contract". Pulse Nigeria. 11 October 2019. Archived from the original on 8 October 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020.
  25. Omoniyi, Oluwaferanmi (26 March 2023). "squad for friendly game". Premium Times.

Notes
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