Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has described football as a game that can defy even the most carefully laid plans, following the Super Falcons’ disappointing campaign at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Sanusi admitted that Nigerians were unhappy with the outcome, but pointed out that Nigeria’s status as one of the most successful teams in women’s African football means opponents approach matches against the Super Falcons with a particularly high level of determination.
According to him, teams facing Nigeria are fully aware of the reputation and quality associated with the side and often treat such encounters as if they were playing in a major final.
“No Nigerian is happy about Nigeria leaving the WAFCON, but you know that any team coming to play against the Nigerian team, ten-time champion, will play as if they’re playing in the World Cup final,” Sanusi said.
The NFF secretary general then offered his own description of the unpredictability of football, comparing it with science and arguing that football can be considerably harder to predict.
“I’ve always been saying that football is science, but more difficult than science because in science, when you add one to one, it gives two, or when you add two hydrogen to oxygen, it gives you water.”
For Sanusi, the difference is that football does not always produce the result expected from the work put into a match.
A team can prepare properly, execute its plans and create opportunities, yet still finish without the result it wanted.
“But in football, you might get all your calculations correct and still don’t know if the outcome will be positive or negative and that’s what football has done to us.”
The NFF official also rejected the suggestion that the players failed to give their best, insisting that the Super Falcons put in a strong effort during the tournament.
“We can all see that the girls have given all their best, they played very well, but the goal did not come,” he said.
For Sanusi, the disappointment must now be put aside as attention turns towards another important objective.
Rather than dwelling on what went wrong at the WAFCON, he wants the team to focus on securing qualification for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.
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“We have to look forward to the playoffs and make sure that we qualify for the World Cup.”
The World Cup qualification route now provides the Super Falcons with an opportunity to respond to their WAFCON disappointment and redirect their attention towards another major international target.
Sanusi’s comments also reflected the importance he places on accepting the unpredictability of football, particularly after a result that did not match the team’s expectations.
He concluded by drawing on his religious beliefs, saying that the outcome was ultimately beyond the control of the players and officials.
“As religious people, we know that only what God has destined will happen, and that’s what has happened.”
For the NFF, however, the focus now shifts from disappointment to preparation, with the World Cup playoffs offering the Super Falcons another opportunity to secure a place on the global stage.
