South Africa secured a 2-1 win against Nigeria in a play-off match for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027, keeping their hopes alive. Additionally, Ghana emerged victorious over the Ivory Coast.

Nigeria’s women’s football team has failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time. They lost 2-1 to South Africa in a playoff at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

Nigeria entered the tournament as the favourites but was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Cameroon after a loss to Malawi in the group stage.

South Africa’s goals from Thembi Kgatlana and Refiloe Jane sealed the victory, despite a late penalty from Christy Ucheibe for Nigeria.

This outcome is disappointing for Nigeria, which has participated in every Women’s World Cup since 1991, winning WAFCON ten times.

Asisat Oshoala, a key player, struggled to score and was substituted, leading to questions about her future in international play.

In the earlier match, Ghana came back to beat Ivory Coast 2-1. Ghana’s victory came against a backdrop of player pay disputes, but they secured their place in the next round of qualifiers alongside South Africa.

Under the tournament’s qualification format, the four losing quarter-finalists progress to an African play-off. The two winners of those play-off matches will then qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental play-offs, where they will have another opportunity to secure places at Brazil 2027.