Rasheedat Ajibade Sets Sights on WAFCON Glory After Super Falcons’ Dominant Senegal Victories

Nigeria’s senior women’s national team captain Rasheedat Ajibade has shifted her focus to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco following Nigeria’s impressive performances in their recent international friendlies against Senegal.

The 10-time African champions underlined their credentials ahead of the continental tournament by recording back-to-back victories over the Teranga Lionesses during the international window.

Nigeria opened the series with a hard-fought 2-1 victory before producing an even more commanding display in the return fixture, cruising to a 3-0 win in Ikenne to complete the double.

Reflecting on the successful outing, Ajibade expressed pride in leading the Super Falcons and praised the dedication, resilience, and determination shown by her teammates throughout the two matches.

“Another national team engagement concluded, and once again I stand proud alongside my teammates after a very successful period,” Ajibade said.

“Being a member of the Super Falcons is a great honour, and every time we go out there, I consider it a privilege to lead this team.

“The energy, the hunger, the fight in every single one of my teammates this week reminded me exactly why I believe in this team.”

The captain believes the positive results provide a solid foundation as the Super Falcons intensify preparations for WAFCON, where they will be aiming to extend their dominance on the African continent.

“WAFCON is coming, and we are coming with everything we’ve got to build upon our previous successes,” she added.

“To every Super Falcon, thank you for your commitment and dedication. I’m proud of you, and I’m honoured to stand beside you.”

The victories over Senegal have further boosted confidence within the Nigerian camp as preparations continue for the tournament in Morocco.

With a record 10 continental titles already to their name, the Super Falcons will travel to WAFCON 2026 determined to reclaim and reinforce their status as Africa’s leading women’s football nation.

Ajibade’s message reflects the growing belief within the squad that Nigeria possesses the quality, experience, and determination required to challenge for another continental crown and add to its illustrious history.

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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