Defending champions step up preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a friendly against the Black Queens.
The Super Falcons will continue their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with an international friendly against Ghana’s Black Queens in Casablanca on Saturday.
The pre-tournament fixture forms part of Nigeria’s final build-up to the continental championship, which gets underway in Morocco on Sunday, as the defending champions fine-tune their preparations before the competition begins.
Nigeria officially opened camp in Casablanca on Monday ahead of the 2026 WAFCON tournament in Morocco, with the team expected to spend the next few days preparing for its Group C opener against Malawi in Rabat on 28 July.
By Tuesday afternoon, 10 players had reported to the Super Falcons’ training camp in Casablanca, while midfielder Toni Payne, who recently completed a move from Everton Women to Inter Milan Women, was expected to arrive on Wednesday.
Head coach Justine Madugu supervised the team’s first training session at Stade El Arbi Zaouli on Tuesday 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 experienced forward Asisat Oshoala.
The Nigeria vs Ghana women’s international friendly ahead of WAFCON 2026 will also be played at Stade El Arbi Zaouli, with kick-off scheduled for 4 p.m.
Following the warm-up match against Ghana, Nigeria will turn its full attention to the tournament, beginning with a Group C clash against Malawi before facing Zambia on 1 August and Egypt on 5 August.
The Super Falcons are aiming to defend their WAFCON title and win a record-extending 11th continental championship, while also chasing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The four teams that reach the semi-finals will secure automatic qualification for the global tournament, while the nation that finishes fifth will advance to an intercontinental playoff.
2026 WAFCON Groups
Group A (Rabat): Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya
Group B (Casablanca): South Africa, CĂ´te d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Tanzania
Group C (Rabat): Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi
Group D (Casablanca): Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde