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Oshoala’s appeal comes after Nigeria suffered a painful 1-0 defeat to Cameroon in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Sunday, a result that ended the Super Falcons’ hopes of defending their continental title and cost them an automatic World Cup place.

The defeat has left Nigeria with a considerably more difficult route to Brazil 2027. The Super Falcons must now overcome South Africa before they can progress to the inter-confederation play-off pathway for one of the remaining World Cup places.

“The only thing I can say right now is we need their support. The World Cup ticket is at stake, so this is the time when we really need everyone to support the team,” Oshoala said, according to ESPN.

The 31-year-old forward’s message comes at a delicate moment for a side accustomed to reaching the latter stages of the continental championship.

Nigeria had never finished below the semi-finals in the previous 13 editions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The defeat by Cameroon therefore represented an unusually early exit for the Super Falcons and brought their long-standing record of World Cup qualification under immediate pressure.

Cameroon secured their quarter-final victory through Myriam Nyadjou’s powerful free-kick in the first half. Nigeria created opportunities to respond but could not find an equaliser against a disciplined Cameroonian defence.

The result was especially costly because the four WAFCON semi-finalists were due to secure automatic qualification for the 2027 World Cup.

Nigeria’s remaining route begins against South Africa, who suffered their own quarter-final disappointment after losing 2-1 to hosts Morocco. The two African heavyweights will now meet with their World Cup ambitions hanging in the balance.

The play-off is scheduled for Thursday, August 13, at Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca, with kick-off at 9pm Nigerian time.

The winner will advance to the preliminary stage of the inter-confederation play-offs, where six teams will compete for access to the final qualification phase.

The stakes are therefore much greater than simply recovering from a disappointing WAFCON campaign. A defeat against South Africa would leave Nigeria’s hopes of appearing at the 2027 World Cup in serious danger.

A victory, however, would preserve the Super Falcons’ hopes and give them another opportunity to secure a place at the tournament in Brazil.

Nigeria’s record against South Africa offers some encouragement. The Super Falcons have won two of their last three meetings with Banyana Banyana, with the other encounter ending in a draw.

The two teams also have a long history of competing for African women’s football’s biggest prizes. South Africa won the 2022 WAFCON, while Nigeria remain the continent’s most successful side in the competition.

For coach Justin Madugu, the immediate task will be to lift a squad that has had little time to recover from the disappointment against Cameroon.

Madugu accepted responsibility for the quarter-final defeat and apologised to Nigerians after the result.

Midfielder Christy Ucheibe has similarly acknowledged the disappointment, saying the team had no excuse for failing to secure automatic qualification.

“We have to move on now. The World Cup is still our target, and we have to fight for that opportunity in the play-offs,” Ucheibe said.

That determination now has to translate into performance against South Africa.

Oshoala’s role could be important as Nigeria look for the attacking quality required to break down a South African side that will also arrive wounded from its quarter-final defeat.

The forward was among the expected starters listed by ESPN for Thursday’s encounter, alongside Toni Payne and Rasheedat Ajibade in Nigeria’s attack.

The match also carries a wider significance for Nigerian women’s football. The Super Falcons have qualified for every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991.

That remarkable record is now at risk.

Nigeria’s failure to secure automatic qualification has already forced the team into an unfamiliar route, one that could require several additional matches before a place in Brazil is confirmed.

For Oshoala, however, the message to supporters is simple. The disappointment of the Cameroon defeat cannot be allowed to overshadow the opportunity that remains.

The Super Falcons still have a route to the World Cup, but that route begins with one demanding test against South Africa.

With the match only days away, Oshoala is asking Nigerians to stay behind the team rather than allow the WAFCON setback to define the campaign.

For the Super Falcons, Thursday’s encounter is an opportunity to turn a painful setback into a renewed World Cup push.

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Victory would keep Nigeria’s remarkable qualification record alive. Defeat would leave the country’s hopes of reaching Brazil 2027 hanging by a thread.