Nigeria’s Super Falcons have been completely shut out of the Confederation of African Football’s Best XI for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, a snub that reflects just how far the team fell short of expectations this tournament.

For the first time in the competition’s history, the ten-time African champions failed to make it past the quarter-finals, crashing out after a narrow 1-0 loss to Cameroon, who would go on to lift the trophy. That result alone tells much of the story behind Nigeria’s absence from the honors list.

Cameroon, unsurprisingly, dominated the selection with four picks, a fitting reward for their title-winning run. Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina joined outfield standouts Myrian Myadjou, Monique Ngock, and Marie Ngah in representing the champions.

Runners-up Malawi placed two players in the XI, notably the sister duo of Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, who impressed throughout the tournament.

Hosts Morocco and Algeria each landed two selections as well Mohaila Benzina and Hanane Ait El Haj for the Moroccans, and Ines Belloumou and Marine Dafeur for Algeria.

Zambia’s Barbara Banda rounded out the star-studded team, while Cameroon boss Valentine Nguele picked up Coach of the Tournament honors.

For Nigeria, the missing Best XI spot is just another marker of a WAFCON campaign that fell well below the standard fans have come to expect from the Super Falcons.