Nigeria is set to miss five major international football competitions in 2027 after qualification setbacks involving the Super Falcons, Flying Eagles and Golden Eaglets. The setbacks affect both the men’s youth teams and the senior women’s national team, with Nigeria failing to secure places at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-20 World Cup, among other tournaments.
The Golden Eaglets’ elimination from the 2026 WAFU-B U-17 Championship following a 1-1 draw with Côte d’Ivoire on Saturday also ended their hopes of featuring at the 2027 U-17 Africa Cup of Nations and the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Here are five major competitions Nigeria will miss in 2027. 1.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2027 Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will miss the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil after failing to secure qualification through the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign and subsequent qualification playoffs. The development is a setback for the nine-time African champions, who had hoped to return to the global tournament after reaching the round of 16 at the 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand. 2.
U-20 Africa Cup of Nations 2027 Nigeria’s Flying Eagles will miss the 2027 U-20 Africa Cup of Nations after failing to secure qualification through the WAFU-B regional tournament. The team lost 4-1 to Burkina Faso in the WAFU-B U-20 Championship final in August, with Burkina Faso earning qualification alongside tournament hosts Ghana. The absence will deny Nigeria another opportunity to compete for the continental title and secure a place at the global youth tournament. 3.
FIFA U-20 World Cup 2027 The Flying Eagles’ failure to qualify for the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations also means Nigeria will miss the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The continental tournament serves as