How has Nigeria dominated the Women's Africa Cup of Nations?

To say Nigeria has dominated the Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (WAFCON) football tournament is to put it mildly. The Super Falcons have not just led the pack—they have defined the standard. With a record nine titles from 12 editions since the competition’s rebranding in 1998, no other nation has come close to matching their success.

Only three times, 2008, 2012, and most recently in 2022, has the trophy eluded them. Nigeria did not feature in any of those finals, meaning that every time the Super Falcons have reached the WAFCON final, they have lifted the trophy. Equatorial Guinea (twice) and defending champions South Africa (once) are the only other nations to have tasted glory.

Some Nigerians insist the Falcons have won 11 continental titles, including the pre-1998 qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which CAF did not officially count as WAFCON tournaments.

Their dominance isn’t limited to Africa. Since the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991, Nigeria is one of just eight countries worldwide to have qualified for every edition, an emphatic endorsement of their consistency on the global stage.

Individually, Nigerian stars have also swept the honours. Thirteen of the 20 African Women’s Player of the Year (POTY) awards handed out since 2001 have gone to Nigerian players. That’s not just continental dominance, it’s a near-total eclipse.

Asisat Oshoala has six of those crowns, the most CAF POTY Awards wins by any player, male or female.

So how has Africa’s most populous nation managed to create such a resounding dynasty in women’s football? The answers lie in a history of early investment, generational talent, and a culture of winning that continues to evolve.

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