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| Super Falcons players in a training session ahead of their 2026 WAFCON opener. |
The Super Falcons will begin the defence of their Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title against Malawi on Monday, July 28, with head coach Justin Madugu and captain Rasheedat Ajibade expressing confidence that Nigeria will open the tournament with victory.
Nigeria, Africa's most successful women's football team with 10 WAFCON titles, take on tournament debutants Malawi in their Group C opener at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat as they pursue a record-extending 11th continental crown.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference, Madugu said the Super Falcons are fully focused on winning every game at the competition.
"When you prepare for any competition, your ultimate goal is to win. We approach every game with the mindset of securing victory, and every match is an opportunity to move closer to our objective," he said.
The Falcons head into the tournament in excellent form, having won eight of their last nine matches across all competitions. Their preparations concluded with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania, where Ajibade scored the opener before Esther Okoronkwo netted the decisive goal late in the second half.
Nigeria are the defending champions after producing a remarkable comeback to defeat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the 2024 WAFCON final.
Malawi, however, arrive in Morocco for their first-ever WAFCON appearance after a difficult run of results, losing five of their last six matches. The Scorchers suffered a 4-0 defeat to Ghana in their final warm-up game and failed to score in four of their previous six outings.
Despite their recent struggles, Malawi impressed during the qualification campaign, earning a draw against Zambia before comfortably defeating Angola to secure a historic place at the tournament.
Nigeria are expected to be without defender Ashleigh Plumptre due to injury, but Madugu still has a wealth of attacking talent available, with Ajibade and Okoronkwo expected to lead the line. Malawi's biggest threats are sisters Tabitha Chawinga and Temwa Chawinga.
The team's preparations were briefly disrupted after Okoronkwo disclosed on social media that $700 had been stolen from her wallet while the squad was staying at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca. Reports indicated that several teammates were also affected.
Following her revelation, the forward became the target of racist abuse on Instagram, with users posting monkey emojis and other offensive comments.
Okoronkwo, however, insisted the incident would not distract the Super Falcons from their quest for another African title.
"Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. We move forward with pride, unity and determination. See you on the pitch," she wrote.
Ajibade also expressed confidence in the squad's readiness ahead of the opening fixture.
"The team's spirit is high. Everyone is fully focused. We know why we're here and we're ready to take things one step at a time. We're 100 per cent ready," the captain said.
While Nigeria are overwhelming favourites, Ajibade warned against underestimating Malawi, praising the progress of women's football in the Southern African nation.
"We're approaching every team with humility and respect. Malawi qualifying for WAFCON for the first time shows the progress they are making and the investment in women's football. Some of their players compete in Europe's top leagues, which shows the future of women's football in Africa is very bright," she added.
The skipper stressed that securing maximum points remains the team's priority.
"A good performance for the Super Falcons is winning three points because that's what matters in this tournament. You can talk about tactics and style of play, but if you don't win, it doesn't count for much," she said.
Ajibade also appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting the team throughout the competition.
"We see the love and support from Nigerians, and it has always played a huge role in our success. We want them to keep that energy going because it motivates us to keep raising the standard and making the country proud. We'll do everything possible to make them proud."