WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons Begin Final Preparations, Take on Ghana in Warm-Up Clash
Defending champions Nigeria will step up preparations for the 14th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with an international friendly against Ghana’s Black Queens on Saturday in Casablanca, Morocco.
The encounter forms part of the Super Falcons’ final build-up to the continental championship, which kicks off on Sunday in Morocco. Nigeria, seeking an unprecedented 11th WAFCON title, opened its training camp in Casablanca on Monday ahead of its Group C campaign.
By Tuesday afternoon, 10 players had arrived at the team’s base at the Hotel Marriott in Casablanca, while midfielder Toni Payne, who recently completed a move to Inter Milan Women from Everton Ladies, was expected to join the squad on Wednesday.
Head Coach Justine Madugu led the team to their first training session at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli on Tuesday afternoon as preparations gathered momentum.
Among the early arrivals in camp are captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie and Fatima Oloko, defenders Oluwatosin Demehin, Glory Ogbonna, Christy Ucheibe, Shukurat Oladipo and Rofiat Imuran, midfielder Jennifer Echegini, and forward Asisat Oshoala.
Saturday’s friendly against the Black Queens will also be played at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli, with kick-off scheduled for 4:00 p.m.
The fixture rekindles one of African women’s football’s historic rivalries, with Ghana having finished runners-up to Nigeria in the inaugural edition of the competition hosted by Nigeria in 1998.
The Super Falcons will begin their title defence against Malawi in Rabat on Tuesday, 28 July, before taking on Zambia on Saturday, 1 August, and Egypt on Wednesday, 5 August, in the remaining Group C fixtures.
The 14th Women’s AFCON will also serve as a qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification, while the fifth-placed team will advance to an intercontinental playoff tournament scheduled for early next year.
The tournament features 16 teams divided into four groups. Group A comprises hosts Morocco, Algeria, Senegal and Kenya. Group B includes South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso and Tanzania.
Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt and Malawi make up Group C, while Ghana, Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde will compete in Group D.
