Nigeria’s Super Falcons were left devastated after their disappointing exit from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with striker Uchenna Kanu revealing that some players were so affected by the defeat that they could not eat the following day.
The Super Falcons’ hopes of defending their WAFCON title came to an end after Nigeria suffered a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon on Sunday. The result was a major setback for the Nigerian women’s national team, who had entered the tournament hoping to retain their continental crown.
Speaking more than 24 hours after the defeat, Kanu explained that the mood inside the Super Falcons camp remained extremely low as the players struggled to accept the result.
Uchenna Kanu opens up on Super Falcons’ reaction
According to Kanu, the disappointment was still very fresh among the players when she spoke about the team’s reaction to the WAFCON exit.
The striker said some members of the squad were still struggling emotionally, with some unable to eat as they came to terms with the painful defeat.
The reaction underlines just how much the result meant to the players, particularly because Nigeria had been targeting another WAFCON title and automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The Super Falcons were unable to achieve either objective through the tournament after Cameroon secured the victory in the quarter-final.
Super Falcons suffer painful WAFCON elimination
Nigeria’s 1-0 defeat to Cameroon brought their title defence to an early end and sent the Indomitable Lionesses through to the semi-finals.
The result was particularly damaging because the 2026 WAFCON also carries significant importance for qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Cameroon secured one of Africa’s automatic World Cup qualification places by reaching the semi-finals, while Nigeria were forced to look toward the play-off route.
Despite the disappointment, the Super Falcons still have an opportunity to keep their World Cup hopes alive through the remaining qualification pathway.
Kanu highlights the emotional impact of the defeat
For the Super Falcons players, the defeat was more than simply another football result.
Nigeria had entered the competition with high expectations, and the players were determined to make a strong defence of their continental title. Their elimination against Cameroon therefore came as a major disappointment to the squad.
Kanu’s comments provide an insight into the emotional toll of the result inside the Nigerian camp.
The fact that some players reportedly struggled to eat the day after the match shows the depth of their disappointment and how difficult it was for the squad to immediately move on from the defeat.
Nigeria must now focus on the next challenge
With their WAFCON title defence over, the Super Falcons must now turn their attention to the next stage of their World Cup qualification campaign.
The defeat to Cameroon means Nigeria can no longer rely on an automatic qualification place earned through the WAFCON semi-finals. Instead, the team must navigate the play-off route to keep their hopes of appearing at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup alive.
The setback will undoubtedly be difficult for the players and coaching staff, but the Super Falcons will need to recover quickly.
Nigeria remain one of Africa’s most successful women’s football nations, and the team will be expected to respond strongly after the disappointment in Morocco.
A difficult moment for the Super Falcons
Uchenna Kanu’s revelation has given fans a closer look at the emotions within the Super Falcons camp following the WAFCON exit.
While the result was a painful one for Nigeria, the players now have an opportunity to use the disappointment as motivation for the challenges ahead.
The Super Falcons will be hoping to put the defeat behind them and fight their way back into contention for a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
For now, however, Kanu’s comments show just how deeply the WAFCON elimination affected the Nigerian players.
