President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has charged the Super Eagles to emulate the fighting spirit of the Super Falcons as they prepare for their remaining 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.
Speaking after Nigeria’s dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in Saturday’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final in Rabat, Gusau described the performance as a testament to resilience and the Nigerian spirit.
“I am very happy because our girls rose from the ‘dead’, as they say, and fought to victory. This was an extraordinary performance. I congratulate them for their resilience, doggedness, patriotism and the blatant display of the well-known Nigerian spirit,” he said.
He noted that the Falcons’ triumph should inspire the Super Eagles, who have four matches left to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.
“This victory, and the spirit behind it, will have positive implications for the men in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series. We have four more matches to turn the table against our opponents, and watching the Super Falcons tonight, and how they turned things around, underscores again the wise saying that in sport and in life, it is never over until it is over,” Gusau said.
He praised the team’s defensive and attacking performance throughout the tournament, where they scored 14 goals and conceded only three, while also lauding individual and collective excellence.
“From the coaching crew to the team captain and the players, we say thank you and well done. With a commanding triumph in the Women AFCON once again, what is left for us to target now is conquering the world at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.”
The Super Falcons avenged losses from the previous WAFCON edition, thrashing Zambia 5-0, edging South Africa 2-1 in the semi-finals, and dethroning Morocco in the final after losing to all three in 2022.
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade was named Player of the Tournament, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie won the Goalkeeper of the Tournament award, while head coach Justin Madugu was awarded Coach of the Tournament.
Nigeria’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign resumes in September with a home game against Rwanda, followed by an away fixture against South Africa.
