Women's national football team representing Nigeria
Nigeria Nickname(s) Super Falcons Association Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)Confederation CAF (Africa)Sub-confederation WAFU (West Africa)Head coach Randy Waldrum Captain Chiamaka Nnadozie Most caps Onome Ebi (109)Top scorer Perpetua Nkwocha (80)[ 1] FIFA code NGA
Current 36 [ 2] Highest 23 (July – August 2003; August 2004; March 2005) Lowest 46 (August 2022) Nigeria 5–1 Ghana Nigeria 15–0 Niger 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)Appearances 9 (first in 1991 ) Best result Quarter-finals (1999 ) Appearances 4 (first in 2000 ) Best result Quarter-finals (2004 ) Appearances 14 (first in 1991 ) Best result Champions (1991 , 1995 , 1998 , 2000 , 2002 , 2004 , 2006 , 2010 , 2014 , 2016 , 2018 ) Appearances 2 (first in 2018 ) Best result Champions (2019 )
The Nigeria women's national football team ,[ a] 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;[ 3] 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.
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 come back by bus 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 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.
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,[ 4] [ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] [ 9] [ 10] [ 11] [ 12] [ 13]
The Nigeria women's national football team has been known or nicknamed as the "Super Falcons ".
FIFA world rankings [ edit ] As of 9 June 2023 [ 14] Worst Ranking Best Ranking Worst Mover Best Mover
Nigeria's FIFA world rankings
Rank
Year
Matches
Won
Lost
Drawn
Best
Worst
Rank
Move
Rank
Move
41
2021
6
3
2
1
37
41
45
2022
10
5
3
2
39
46
40
2023
5
3
2
0
40
45
Results and fixtures [ edit ] 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
Current coaching staff [ edit ] On 11 July 2023, the coaching squad for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup was released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).[ 15]
As of 13 December 2023 The following players were named to the squad for two friendlies against Algeria in October 2024.[ 37] Following players have been called up to a squad in the past 12 months.
Notes:
Bold indicates winning squads
FIFA Women's World Cup
Olympic Games Africa Women Cup of Nations
*Active players in bold , statistics as of November 2020.
Most capped players [ edit ] This section
needs expansion . You can help by
adding to it .
(October 2020 )
This section
needs expansion . You can help by
adding to it .
(October 2020 )
Champions: 1991 , 1995 , 1998 , 2000 , 2002 , 2004 , 2006 , 2010 , 2014 , 2016 , 2018 [ edit ]
FIFA Women's World Cup record
Year
Result
Position
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
1991 Group stage
10th
3
0
0
3
0
7
1995 11th
3
0
1
2
5
14
1999 Quarter-finals
7th
4
2
0
2
8
12
2003 Group stage
15th
3
0
0
3
0
11
2007 13th
3
0
1
2
1
4
2011 9th
3
1
0
2
1
2
2015 21st
3
0
1
2
3
6
2019 Round of 16
16th
4
1
0
3
2
7
2023 10th
4
1
3
0
3
2
2027 To be determined
Total 9/10
30
5
6
19
23
65
FIFA Women's World Cup history
Year
Round
Date
Opponent
Result
Stadium
1991
Group stage
17 November
Germany L 0–4Jiangmen Stadium , Jiangmen
19 November
Italy L 0–1Zhongshan Stadium , Zhongshan
21 November
Chinese Taipei L 0–2Jiangmen Stadium , Jiangmen
1995
Group stage
6 June
Norway L 0–8Tingvallen , Karlstad
8 June
Canada D 3–3Olympia Stadion , Helsingborg
10 June
England L 2–3Tingvallen , Karlstad
1999
Group stage
20 June
North Korea W 2–1Rose Bowl , Pasadena
24 June
United States L 1–7Soldier Field , Chicago
27 June
Denmark W 2–0Jack Kent Cooke Stadium , Landover
Quarter-finals 1 July
Brazil L 3–4 (a.e.t. )
2003
Group stage
20 September
North Korea L 0–3Lincoln Financial Field , Philadelphia
25 September
United States L 0–5
28 September
Sweden L 0–3Columbus Crew Stadium , Columbus
2007
Group stage
11 September
Sweden D 1–1Chengdu Sports Center , Chengdu
14 September
North Korea L 0–2
18 September
United States L 0–1Hongkou Stadium , Shanghai
2011
Group stage
26 June
France L 0–1Rhein-Neckar-Arena , Sinsheim
30 June
Germany L 0–1Commerzbank-Arena , Frankfurt
5 July
Canada W 1–0Rudolf-Harbig-Stadion , Dresden
2015
Group stage
8 June
Sweden D 3–3Winnipeg Stadium , Winnipeg
12 June
Australia L 0–2
16 June
United States L 0–1BC Place , Vancouver
2019
Group stage
8 June
Norway L 0–3Stade Auguste-Delaune , Reims
12 June
South Korea W 2–0Stade des Alpes , Grenoble
17 June
France L 0–1Roazhon Park , Rennes
Round of 16
22 June
Germany L 0–3Stade des Alpes , Grenoble
2023
Group stage
21 July
Canada D 0–0Melbourne Rectangular Stadium , Melbourne
27 July
Australia W 3–2Lang Park , Brisbane
31 July
Republic of Ireland D 0–0
Round of 16
7 August
England D 0–0 (4–2(p ))
Summer Olympics record
Year
Result
Pld
W
D
L
GF
GA
1996
Did not qualify
2000 Group stage
3
0
0
3
3
9
2004 Quarter-finals
3
1
0
2
3
4
2008 Group stage
3
0
0
3
1
5
2012
Did not qualify
2016
2020
2024 Group stage
3
0
0
3
1
5
Total
4/8
12
1
0
11
8
23
Africa Women Cup of Nations [ edit ]
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
1998 Champions 5
5
0
0
28
0
2000 Champions 5
4
1
0
19
2
2002 Champions 5
4
0
1
15
2
2004 Champions 5
4
1
0
18
2
2006 Champions 5
5
0
0
18
2
2008 Third place 5
1
3
1
3
3
2010 Champions 5
5
0
0
19
4
2012 Fourth place 5
3
0
2
8
4
2014 Champions 5
5
0
0
16
3
2016 Champions 5
4
1
0
13
1
2018 Champions 5
2
2
1
10
1
2022 Fourth place 6
3
1
2
9
4
2024
Qualified
Total
11 Titles 73
57
9
7
223
32
[ edit ]
^ a b "AFRICAN LEGEND OF THE WEEK: PERPETUA NKWOCHA" . Goal.com . 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 9 February 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2017 .^ "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Women's World Ranking" . FIFA . 16 August 2024. Retrieved 16 August 2024 .^ Diamond, Drew (30 October 2023). "Who has won the most Women's AFCON titles?" . Her Football Hub . Retrieved 30 October 2023 . ^ Oyedele, Tunde (21 October 2004). "Nigeria: Go And Sin No More -Obasanjo Tells Falcons, Splashes N1m On Each Player" P.M. News . Retrieved 7 July 2023 . ^ "Recurring embarrassments" . Vanguard . Retrieved 7 July 2023 .^ "U.S. moves to World Cup quarterfinals" . Times Herald-Record Associated Press . 18 September 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2023 .^ "Nigeria Super Falcons march on parliament to demand bonuses" . BBC News . Retrieved 11 May 2023 .^ "Women's World Cup: Nigeria players threaten sit-in protest over unpaid bonuses and allowances" . BBC Sport . Retrieved 11 May 2023 .^ Udoh, Colin (23 June 2019). "Nigeria stage sit-in at WWC over unpaid bonuses" . ESPN . Retrieved 11 May 2023 . ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (20 July 2022). "Wafcon 2022: Nigeria women boycott training in bonus row" . BBC Sport . Retrieved 14 July 2023 . ^ Eludini, Tunde (21 July 2022). "WAFCON 2022: Super Falcons to train once ahead of Zambia clash" . Premium Times . Retrieved 14 July 2023 . ^ Aiyejina, Tana (7 July 2023). "Falcons plan protest, World Cup boycott as NFF cancels bonuses" . The Punch . Retrieved 7 July 2023 . ^ Miller, Nick (14 July 2023). "Nigeria are involved in a three-way power struggle days before the Women's World Cup" . The Athletic . Retrieved 14 July 2023 . ^ "FIFA NIGERIA WOMEN'S RANKING" . FIFA . 25 June 2021. Archived from the original on 16 July 2021. Retrieved 17 July 2021 .^ "FIFA Women's World Cup 2023™ squad lists confirmed" . FIFA . 11 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023 .^ 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 . ^ "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 .^ "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 .^ "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 .^ "Falcons loss to Ghana, not a surprise – Mabo" . Punch . 24 February 2018. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 27 May 2018 .^ 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 . ^ 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 . ^ "Coaches react to death of Jossy Lad" . Vanguard . 9 May 2013. Archived from the original on 31 December 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2018 .^ 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 . ^ "Nigeria/Ghana: 2008 African Women Championship - Super Falcons Begin Campaign Against Ghana Today" . Leadership . Retrieved 11 May 2018 .^ "Eucharia Uche, Super Falcons Coach, Sacked" . onlinenigeria . 25 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 November 2020. Retrieved 16 November 2020 .^ "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 .^ "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 .^ "NFF Appoints Florence Omagbemi Super Falcons Coach" . 18 February 2016. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2020 .^ Yahoo News [permanent dead link ] ^ "Omagbemi out of running for Nigeria role" . Archived from the original on 14 September 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021 – via www.bbc.com.^ 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 . ^ Abayomi, Tosin. "NFF unveil new Super Falcons coach" . Pulse . Archived from the original on 9 June 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018 . ^ "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 .^ "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 .^ "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 .^ 25 for friendly vs Algeria . International friendly. Two games to be played at the MJ Arena in Lagos ^ "Oparanozie Reveals Why She Lost Super Falcons Captaincy (AUDIO)" . BusyBuddies . 20 June 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2023 .^ "Oshoala Stripped of Super Falcons' Captaincy" . This Day Live . 8 April 2022. Retrieved 26 July 2023 .^ Adefala, Tope (31 October 2022). "Maureen Mmadu played 52 official games for Falcons not 101 – NFF" . Sports Ration . Retrieved 30 July 2023 .
^ Hausa : Kungiyar kwallon kafa ta mata ta Najeriya , Igbo : Ndị otu egwuregwu bọọlụ ụmụ nwanyị nke mba Naịjirịa
Nigeria at the FIFA Women's World Cup
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Round of 16 Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Round of 16 Group stage
Champions Runner-up Third place Fourth place Quarter-finals Round of 16 Group stage
Nigeria squads – FIFA Women's World Cup
Nigeria squads – Women's Africa Cup of Nations
(16 August 2024)[2]
Nigeria 5–1 Ghana 
Norway 8–0 Nigeria 
Germany 8–0 Nigeria 
France 8–0 Nigeria 
0
1
Ethiopia 
Cape Verde 
South Africa 
Brazil 
Algeria 
24', 45+2'
Randy Waldrum
Jo Bonfrere
Thomas Dennerby
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small}
Third-place: 2008
Champions
1991
2015
2019
2023
2004
2012
2008
2014
2022
2011
2015
2018
