The reigning champions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), Nigeria, are set to clash with Ghana in an international friendly match this Saturday. This encounter serves as a crucial part of their preparations for the upcoming 2026 tournament, which will be held in Morocco. The Super Falcons, who are ambitiously pursuing their 11th continental title—a record they aim to extend—have already commenced their training camp in Casablanca, having opened it on Monday. This friendly will not only allow the team to fine-tune their strategies but also to gauge their readiness ahead of their Group C opener against Malawi, scheduled for July 28 in Rabat.
As of Tuesday afternoon, ten players had already reported to the team’s training base at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, with midfielder Toni Payne, who has recently transitioned from Everton Women to Inter Milan Women, expected to join the squad on Wednesday. Under the adept leadership of head coach Justine Madugu, the nine-time champions conducted their inaugural training session on Tuesday at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, marking the beginning of an intense preparation period.
Among the players present in the training camp are notable names including captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie and Fatima Oloko, defenders Oluwatosin Demehin, Glory Ogbonna, Shukurat Oladipo, and Rofiat Imuran, as well as midfielders Christy Ucheibe and Jennifer Echegini, and the prolific forward Asisat Oshoala. The upcoming match against Ghana's Black Queens will take place at Stade Larbi Zaouli with kick-off set for 4 p.m., reigniting one of the most intense rivalries in African women's football, particularly since Ghana fell to Nigeria in the final of the inaugural Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 1998.
Following this warm-up fixture, the Super Falcons will embark on their WAFCON campaign, commencing with their match against Malawi on July 28, and will subsequently face Zambia on August 1 and Egypt on August 5 in their remaining Group C fixtures. This series of matches will be pivotal as Nigeria aims to assert its dominance in women's football across the continent.
As reported by tvcnews.tv.
