Undoubtedly, the Super Falcons have dropped a few notches in Africa, as African teams no longer hold them in awe.
With the qualifiers for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2024 underway, the Super Falcons will want to return to the zenith.
Anyway, away from the shenanigans of what was, what is and what can be. They are still the most successful side of the continent.
The Super Falcons have won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations 11 times out of the 14, with only Equatorial Guinea and South Africa denying them the title on the other three occasions.
With this rich history must come great players that have helped them dominate the continent the way they have.
Goals make the game, and strikers get the most goals. So, who are the Super Falcons all-time top scorers at WAFCON?
Super Falcons all-time WAFCON top scorers
Rita Nwadike (4)
The former Rivers Angels midfielder represented the Super Falcons at several tournaments, including the 2004 Summer Olympics.
She also scored Nigeria's first-ever FIFA Women's World Cup goal against Canada in the 1995 tournament in Sweden.
She has four WAFCON goals.
Kikelomo Ajayi (5)
Florence Kikelomo Ajayi was a no-nonsense defender in her heydays.
The former captain of the Super Falcons was great at defending but also knew a thing or two about scoring.
Ajayi played for Koko Queens, Rivers Angels, Jagede Babes and Pelican Stars.
She also played for Police Machine, Bayelsa Queens and Tianjin Teda (China).
She scored five WAFCON goals for the Super Falcons.
Stella Mbachu (8)
Stella Mbachu is a retired Super Falcons forward.
Stella Mbachu was a slick and pacey forward who used her trickery and pace to outmanoeuvre defenders.
She had a lengthy career with the Super Falcons, with plenty of goals and titles.
Mbachu played in several WAFCON tournaments for Nigeria and scored several goals.
The former Rivers Angels striker featured for the national team 88 times and scored 20 goals, with eight coming at WAFCON.
Mbachu featured in the 1998 tournament, among the several she has played and scored one goal.
Her last goal was in 2012 in a 3-1 group-stage victory over Cameroon in the 2010 tournament.
Asisat Oshoala (10)
Nigeria has always succeeded in raising a new star to take over from the previous ones.
Asisat Oshoala popped on the scene when Nigeria needed her and took the Super Falcons back to the zenith on the continent.
The Barcelona forward has been around playing for top sides like Arsenal before landing at the Nou Camp.
She is one striker that defenders dread, as she possesses pace and slick finishing.
She ranks sixth in the WAFCON top scorers list and is number five in Nigeria.
Asisat Oshola has won 3 WAFCON titles (2014, 2016, 2018).
Cynthia Uwak (10)
Cynthia Uwak has played for several clubs in Nigeria and Europe.
Among the clubs she has played for include 1. FC Saarbrücken, Vantaa and Åland United.
The almost forgotten heroine of the female national team was named African Women Footballer of The Year in 2006 and 2007.
Cynthia Uwak scored six goals in the 2006 WAFCON to finish as the second top scorer behind Nigeria's Perpetua Nkwocha.
Desire Oparanozie (11)
When the Super Falcons were tottering like a punch-drunk boxer, nobody knew where redemption would come from.
Desire Oparanozie stepped on the scene and gave her all to ensure that the Super Falcons were revered on the continent again.
After a meritorious career, the former Guingamp, Dijon and Wuhan Jianghan University striker called time on her career.
Her last tournament for the Super Falcons was the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. She came on as a substitute in her only appearance at the tournament.
It didn't pan out for her as she would have wanted. Oparanozie missed a penalty in the shootout against England that cost Nigeria a place in the quarter-final.
She was the top scorer at WAFCON in 2014 with five goals. She has also won the competition four times – 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018.
Mercy Akide (11)
The only name that soars above Mercy Akide is Perpetua Nkwocha, but the gangly striker set the pace for others to follow.
Mercy Akide was one of the early pioneers of the successes of the Super Falcons.
She is a legend of the African game, and her fame goes beyond the African continent.
She scored a brace in her debut for Nigeria in a World Cup qualifier against Sierra Leone in 1994 and was the first-ever African Women Footballer of the Year in 2001.
She finished top scorer in the 2000 WAFCON with seven goals.
Mercy Akide was also in the IFFHS All-time Africa Women's Dream Team in 2021.
Perpetua Nkwocha (34)
The goals queen is undoubtedly the greatest goal scorer the women's game has seen in Africa.
Whenever she dorns the Super Falcons shirt, goals follow. She has rarely disappointed her fans and is the top scorer for Nigeria and in Africa.
Thirty-four goals in WAFCON across several tournaments is a tall hill to climb, and her record will remain for a long time.
She has the record for the most goals in a single tournament (11).
She also finished top scorer in four different tournaments – 2002 (4), 2004 (9), 2006 (7) and 2010 (11).
She has won the African Women Footballer of the Year award four times, plus five WAFCON titles (2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014).
Super Falcons WAFCON top scorers list
| # | Name | Goals scored |
| 1 | Perpetua Nkwocha | 34 |
| 2 | Mercy Akide | 11 |
| 3 | Desire Oparanozie | 11 |
| 4 | Cynthia Uwak | 10 |
| 5 | Asisat Oshoala | 10 |
| 6 | Stella Mbachu | 8 |
| 7 | Kikelomo Ajayi | 5 |
| 8 | Rita Nwadike | 4 |
| 9 | Maureen Madu | 4 |
| 10 | Olaitan Yusuf | 4 |
| 11 | Effionwan Ekpo | 4 |
| 12 | Ifeanyichukwu Chiejine | 4 |
| 13 | Francisca Ordega | 4 |
| 14 | Rasheedat Ajibade | 4 |
| 15 | Nkiru Okosieme | 3 |
| 16 | Patience Avre | 2 |
| 17 | Vera Okolo | 2 |
| 18 | Uchenna Kanu | 2 |
This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago
