Africa: Nigeria absent from 2026 World Cup

Nigeria, the traditional powerhouse of African women's football, will not participate in the 2026 World Cup. South Africa and Ghana won the African qualification playoffs and advance to the intercontinental matches. This debacle marks the first absence of the Nigerian team from a women's World Cup. The two qualified nations will now face representatives from other continents to secure their ticket to the 2026 tournament in the United States.