By Dorcas Francis Koji
Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board member and women’s football advocate Aisha Falode has urged Nigeria to step up its investment in the women’s game, warning that the country can no longer rely on its rich history as other African nations continue to make significant progress.
Falode said the rapid development of women’s football across the continent should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria, stressing that sustained investment, improved grassroots structures and better welfare for players are essential if the Super Falcons are to maintain their status as Africa’s most successful women’s national team.
According to her, several African countries have made remarkable strides in recent years by prioritising women’s football through enhanced funding, youth development programmes and professional league structures.
“Nigeria must keep pace with the growth of women’s football in Africa,” Falode said. “The days when our history alone guaranteed success are over. Other countries are investing heavily, and we must continue to improve if we want to remain at the top.”
The Super Falcons remain the most decorated team in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), having won a record 10 continental titles. However, the gap between Nigeria and other African nations has narrowed considerably, with countries such as South Africa, Morocco, Zambia and Ghana making significant progress in recent years.
Falode noted that the increasing competitiveness of women’s football on the continent should encourage Nigeria to strengthen its domestic league, improve coaching standards and provide players with the resources needed to compete consistently at the highest level.
She also praised the growing popularity of women’s football across Africa, describing it as a positive development that will ultimately raise the overall standard of the game.
“The growth we’re seeing is good for African football,” she added. “It means every tournament becomes more competitive, and that pushes every nation to become better.”
Her comments come as the Super Falcons intensify preparations for upcoming international competitions, with expectations remaining high that the Tenth-time African champions will continue to set the benchmark on the continent despite the increasing quality of their rivals.
Football stakeholders have echoed Falode’s sentiments, urging administrators to continue investing in grassroots development, infrastructure and player welfare to ensure Nigeria remains competitive on both the continental and global stages.
As women’s football continues to enjoy unprecedented growth across Africa, Falode believes Nigeria’s future success will depend not on past achievements but on its willingness to adapt, innovate and invest in the next generation of talent.
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