Nigeria’s female national team, Super Falcons commenced full training in Casablanca, Morocco on Tuesday, with emphasis on how to win their opening match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against Malawi on July 28th.
Sports247 reports that Coach Justin Madugu and his technical crew will also line the squad out for a build-up international friendly match against Ghana’s Black Queens on Saturday, as plans towards WAFCON 2026 begin in earnest.
Heading into Saturday’s game, the crew will carefully watch the players and psyche them up ahead of their opening match, to avoid underrating the fast-rising squad from Malawi, who recently changed their coach, in order to boost their ability in a debut appearance at the tournament.
Malawi’s highly ambitious side will be handled by a South African tactician, Sudesh Singh as the technical adviser, while their indigenous coach, Lovemore Fazili will assist him in the implementation of tactics and selecting the starting line-up at WAFCON 2026.
The Super Falcons are scheduled to begin their title defence against Malawi’s Scorchers at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on July 28th, after which they will also face Zambia and Egypt, as the Nigerians aim to extend their record as Africa’s most successful women’s national team.
Ahead of their upcoming challenge, the 10-time African champions opened camp on Monday, with nine of the invited players turning up pretty early, much to the delight of Madugu, who knows there’s no time to be wasted in plotting strategies for another conquest of Morocco for the second WAFCON in a row.
Captain of the side, Rasheedat Ajibade, was joined among the early birds in camp by former six-time African Women’s Footballer of The Year, Asisat Oshoala as well as first-choice goalkeeper, Chiamaka Nnadozie from Brighton & Hove Albion of England.
Other early birds were Glory Ogbonna, Christy Ucheibe, Fatima Oloko, Oluwatosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran and Shukurat Oladipo; all of who arrived with great expectations of once again excelling at the continental showpiece, which will hold from July 26th to August 16th.
A press statement by the NFF’s communications department added, “Nigeria, gunning for a record-extending 11th title, have been drawn against Egypt, Zambia and debutants Malawi in Group C, with matches to be played in Morocco’s administrative capital, Rabat.
“The Super Falcons will begin their title defence against Malawi on Tuesday, July 28, at the Al Madina Stadium, before facing Zambia on Saturday, August 1, at the same venue, and rounding off the group stage against Egypt on Wednesday, August 5, at the Olympic Stadium.”
Sports247 gathered further that all four teams that reach the semi-finals of this year’s WAFCON, which has 16 countries for the first time, will qualify for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the fifth-placed nation will proceed to an intercontinental play-off competition.
