Nigeria’s Super Falcons just landed in Morocco for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) with some serious weight on their shoulders. These champs have claimed a mind-blowing 10 out of 13 Wafcon titles since ’98, and after their “Mission X” victory last year, everyone expects them to do it again. They’re literally the benchmark for African women’s football.
The Pressure Cooker Is ON
Retaining that crown won’t be easy, especially after they last pulled off a hat-trick of titles way back in 2018. Head coach Justin Madugu, who orchestrated last year’s 3-2 win against the hosts, put it perfectly to BBC Sport Africa: “Now that we are champions, every other team will want to draw you down.” He gets it, saying, “It’s not going to be easy. We are quite aware of that and we are going to be fully ready.” Assistant coach Ann Chiejine, a four-time Wafcon winner as a player, echoed that sentiment, adding, “Every country wants to beat Nigeria. That is why we must up our game by making sure we train harder.” Nigeria kicked off their campaign against debutants Malawi this week and will also face Zambia and Egypt in Group C.
Star Power Meets Rising Stakes
The squad is stacked with some of the biggest names in the game. You’ve got captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who was the best player last year, plus Chiamaka Nnadozie, the current African goalkeeper of the year, and the legendary Asisat Oshoala, a six-time African player of the year. Talk about leadership and experience! But Madugu’s also weaving in fresh talent, like young striker Joy Omewa, who plays club ball in Sweden and watched last year’s triumph from the sidelines. She’s hyped, saying, “I think this year it’s going to be even bigger.” This Wafcon is more intense than ever, especially since it’s expanded from 12 to 16 teams. Winger Francisca Ordega laid out the real goal: “Our first target is to qualify for the World Cup. After that we can think of defending our title.” The tournament doubles as a qualifier for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists getting a guaranteed spot.
Nigeria has represented the continent at all nine World Cups since ’91, and they are not about to miss out on Brazil. Even with Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world compared to Nigeria’s 36th, bringing a “fearsome attack” with the Chawinga sisters, the Super Falcons aren’t sweating. Ordega declared, “We are not under any kind of pressure. We can hold our own against any team across Africa.” They’ve set the standard, and now it’s time to see if they can raise their game even higher.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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