Super Falcons players found it hard to eat after WAFCON loss, Kanu

Super Falcons forward Uchenna Kanu has shared that some players found it difficult to eat the day after Nigeria’s emotional loss to Cameroon in the WAFCON quarter-finals.

Nigeria’s chance to defend their title ended when Cameroon won 1-0 in Casablanca. This loss also means that the Super Falcons will not qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Cameroon is now in the semi-finals and has secured a spot for Africa in the World Cup. Nigeria will have to go through the playoffs to qualify.

Kanu mentioned that the disappointment is still heavy in the camp more than a day after the defeat. Many players are still trying to recover emotionally.

“People are still in their feelings,” Kanu told ESPN on Tuesday.

“Some people didn’t even come out today for breakfast. Most of us, like myself, didn’t have breakfast. I didn’t show up to lunch.”

The Cruz Azul player said she finally managed to eat later in the afternoon but many of her teammates are feeling the same way.

“We’ve all been down,” she said.

Kanu, who came on in the 38th minute of the match against Cameroon, said the team is heartbroken about the result.

“I cried my eyes out, so did my teammates. We felt really terrible,” she said.

“That was not the promise we made to Nigerians, and it was a very disappointing night for all of us.”

Cameroon scored the only goal in the 19th minute through Myriam Nyadjou and held on to their lead despite Nigeria’s pressure.

Kanu believes the Super Falcons played their best match of the tournament but could not get the result they needed.

“I know my girls, we did really well. We played our best game so far, but it was not good enough to secure the ticket, and we were all disappointed,” she said.

The forward also pointed out some issues during the match, including the quality of the pitch and the officiating.

“A lot of factors played into the game. The officiating was not the best we’ve seen. The officials were not at their best performance. Also, the field was not a great field, to be fair,” Kanu said.

Despite the setback, Kanu encouraged her teammates to move on from the defeat and prepare for their next chance.

“We would take it as a lesson learned, and we build with it, and we look forward to putting everything right on Thursday, leaving everything on the field on Thursday against South Africa,” she said.

Nigeria will play South Africa in the playoffs, with the winner going to FIFA’s intercontinental playoff for the 2027 World Cup.

The Super Falcons have been at every Women’s World Cup since it started in 1991, and Kanu emphasized the need to keep that record.

“Our main focus right now would be on Thursday’s game, and hopefully we progress from there,” she said.

“Hopefully, by the end of the game on Thursday, we would feel alive again.”

The loss may have ended Nigeria’s hopes of defending their continental title, but the Super Falcons still have another chance to reach the 2027 World Cup.

“Right now, emotions are very down. We’re putting our best, and we hope to eventually secure the ticket for the 2027 World Cup,” Kanu said.