Six-time African Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala has expressed her desire to see larger crowds at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), saying stronger fan support will reflect the continued growth of women’s football across Africa.
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The Super Falcons forward, who has featured in multiple WAFCON tournaments, believes this year’s championship in Morocco should demonstrate significant progress both on and off the pitch as Nigeria targets a record-extending 11th continental title.
Speaking during a CAF Media Stars Spotlight session, Oshoala described the tournament as a competition worth fighting for despite Nigeria’s long-standing dominance in African women’s football.
“I am looking forward to Nigeria winning it again. It’s something to always fight for, but I feel like each edition there has to be a form of improvement on and off the pitch,” Oshoala said.
“I really want to see more fans out there. It has to be better than the previous editions. More promotion of this tournament will help spread awareness about African women’s football.”
The 31-year-old is among the early arrivals at Nigeria’s training camp in Casablanca, where head coach Justine Madugu’s squad is preparing for the tournament, scheduled to run from July 25 to August 16 in Morocco.
Oshoala, who lifted the WAFCON trophy with Nigeria in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2024, also reflected on her international career, highlighting how her experiences in Europe and North America have shaped her development.
“It’s been an amazing journey for me personally, having experienced all of this and played on different continents. It’s been pretty impressive, but there is always room for improvement,” she added.
The Super Falcons have been drawn in Group C alongside Malawi, Zambia and Egypt, and will begin their campaign against tournament debutants Malawi in Rabat on July 28.
In addition to competing for continental glory, Nigeria will also be aiming to secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The four semi-finalists will qualify automatically, while the best-performing quarter-finalist will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.
