WAFCON Qualifiers: Madugu upbeat despite Echegini blow as Nigeria camp grows

By Oluwadamilola Olaleye

Nigeria head coach Justine Madugu says he remains confident in the Super Falcons’ chances ahead of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) qualifying double-header against Benin Republic, despite the injury-enforced absence of key midfielder Jennifer Echegini.

Echegini suffered a hamstring injury while in action for Paris Saint-Germain on Monday night and has been ruled out of both legs of the qualifier.

The 23-year-old, who scored the winning goal in the 2024 WAFCON final against hosts Morocco, will miss the first leg scheduled for Friday at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo, as well as the return fixture next Tuesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.

The midfielder’s absence represents a significant setback, but Madugu believes the squad has the depth and quality to overcome it.

“We will miss Jennifer, no doubt, but we have other capable players ready to step in. This team is built to adapt,” Madugu said.

Meanwhile, preparations are gathering momentum as more players join the Falcons’ training camp.

Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, also of PSG, is expected to arrive in Lomé on Tuesday night alongside Mexico-based duo Osinachi Ohale and Chinwendu Ihezuo. USA-based Michelle Alozie and Deborah Abiodun are also due to join the team.

Canada-based forward Esther Okoronkwo and Italy-based defender Shukurat Oladipo are expected to link up with the squad in the coming hours.

The camp received a boost late Monday with the arrivals of Portugal-based midfielder Christy Ucheibe and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, increasing the number of players in camp from nine to eleven.

Saudi Arabia-based defender Ashley Plumptre further strengthened the squad with her arrival on Tuesday afternoon, as Nigeria intensifies preparations for Friday’s crucial first leg in Togo.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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