In a raw, unsparing documentary detailing their build-up to the 2024 Olympics, members of the Super Falcons laid bare years of systemic neglect and dysfunction under the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The revelations paint a damning picture of how Africa’s most successful women’s team continues to battle institutional indifference even at the highest level.
Rasheedat Ajibade, who recently became team captain, set the tone by pointing to the lack of continuity and cohesion in the squad’s preparations.
“You need people to play together because we’re all playing in different countries, different kind of football, style of play, different coach with different instructions,” she said. “And you’re coming to a place in less than few days, you want to play together and play a match.”
While other nations built cohesion with regular camps and proper support, Nigeria’s preparations were scattered and underfunded. Michelle Alozie highlighted the disparity.
“When we are leading into these really large tournaments like the Olympics and we have back-to-back camps cancelled, and we’re not given a reason why… we see the Super Eagles and they have their camps, but our camps are getting canceled… but we are also going to one of the largest tournaments and it’s our first time in 16 years.”
That sense of inequality was not limited to planning. It extended to basic infrastructure. Ajibade recalled Nigeria’s match against Spain.
“We had the same hotel with them… I could see all the equipment set down for the players… recovery drinks, the recovery everything… four physios taking care of different players… I was in the Olympics, virtually almost 100 minutes of every game, I didn’t even go to the physio. Just because we only have one physio treating all the players. So it’s really bad.”
Asisat Oshoala, the team’s most senior figure, issued a quiet plea.
“Coming off the Olympics, I just hope it sent a message to the Federation and just do better for the team, be there.”
A new year, same old problems for Nigeria’s Super Falcons
Fast forward to 2025, and the same shadows linger. With less than three months to the start of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, the Falcons have no friendlies lined up, no camp dates set, no clarity.
In Nigeria, To whom little is given, much is expected.
Super Falcons skipper addresses team's challenges pic.twitter.com/EiihTxBgMA
— Tosin (Uno) (@Cosimo_diMedici) May 1, 2025
Alozie’s final words in the documentary now feel prophetic.
“We could be like such an amazing team if we just had the right resources… With the right belief in us, we would be unstoppable, truly.”
Nigeria’s last competitive outing was a 2-1 loss to France in November 2024. Since then, silence. While rivals fine-tune, the Falcons drift.
For a team with nine continental titles, this recurring unpreparedness is more than an oversight, it’s a tragedy being repeated in real time.
