"It broke me" – Uchenna Kanu Opens Up on Shock Exclusion from WAFCON 2024 Winning Squad

Five months ago, Nigeria’s Super Falcons were crowned Champions of Africa for a record 10th time in Morocco, defeating the host nation 3–2 in a pulsating final.

Ahead of the tournament, head coach Justin Madugu released a 21-player squad list featuring top stars such as Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade, Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie, and Ashleigh Plumptre. But one notable name was missing — Uchenna Kanu.

The Racing Louisville forward’s omission surprised many, considering her steady rise through Nigeria’s women’s football ranks — from the Flamingoes to the Falconets, and ultimately the Super Falcons.

Since making her senior debut in April 2019, Kanu has earned around 35 caps and scored 20 goals. She featured at the 2022 WAFCON, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and the Paris 2024 Olympics. Yet, she was left out of the squad that eventually reclaimed the WAFCON.

What happened?

When questioned about how it felt to miss out on Nigeria’s WAFCON-winning campaign, Kanu spoke candidly:

“It’s tough, it’s hard. I was really sad about it because I was so close to going to the WAFCON.

I know a lot of people are changing the narrative, saying it was my injury, but I don’t think it was that. Almost every player is going through something and still pushing through to do their job.”

She revealed she had already begun visa processing and preparations before receiving a sudden message from the coach just days before departure.

“I was in the process of going to the WAFCON — started the visa process — and three days before the trip, I got a message from the coach saying I was no longer with the team,” she told Babatunde Koiki on NewsCentral TV.

“It broke me because I was prepared. I had people I wanted to share this milestone with, and everything just went down the drain in a few days.”

Kanu added that she attempted to seek an explanation from coach Madugu but received no response.

“It was tough. I got sad. I asked the coach what happened, what the problem was, and he didn’t give an answer. That made it even harder for me.”

Despite the disappointment, the 27-year-old maintains a positive outlook. She says she misses her teammates and remains hopeful about returning to the squad.

"I’m waiting eagerly to be called up because I miss the team and my friends in the team. It’s possible for the Falcons to win an 11th WAFCON title.”