ABUJA, Nigeria — Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has called on Nigerians to continue supporting the national women’s team despite their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi, insisting that qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup remains achievable.
Speaking after the shock loss, Oshoala acknowledged the disappointment felt by players and supporters but stressed that the campaign is still in its early stages. She said the nine-time African champions remain focused on turning things around in their remaining qualification matches.
The defeat to tournament debutants Malawi dealt an early setback to Nigeria’s World Cup qualification hopes and increased the pressure on the Super Falcons ahead of their upcoming fixtures. However, Oshoala expressed confidence that the squad has the quality, experience and determination needed to recover from the disappointing result.
The veteran striker appealed to football fans across the country not to lose faith in the team, saying their encouragement will be crucial as the players seek to regain momentum. She described the support of Nigerians as an important source of motivation, particularly during difficult moments in the qualification campaign.
Oshoala admitted that the loss was painful for both the players and supporters, but insisted the team would use the experience as motivation to improve. She said the Super Falcons are determined to learn from their mistakes and approach their remaining matches with greater focus, discipline and intensity.
With several qualifiers still to be played, the coaching staff is expected to review the team’s performance and make tactical adjustments aimed at improving results. The Super Falcons now face the challenge of securing positive outcomes in their remaining fixtures to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup alive.
Despite the setback, Oshoala remains optimistic that Nigeria can recover and finish the campaign strongly. She said unity within the squad, hard work on the training ground and the continued backing of Nigerians would give the team the confidence needed to fight until the final match of the qualification series.
