Ordega tips Ghana as biggest threat to Nigeria’s WAFCON crown

Francisca Ordega believes Ghana’s Black Queens are the Super Falcons’ biggest obstacle to retaining their Women’s African Cup of Nations title at WAFCON 2026.

Nigeria open their title defence on Tuesday against Malawi in Group A, as they chase a record-extending 11th continental crown.

The Super Falcons, 10-time champions of Africa, will also face Zambia and Egypt in the group stage as they begin their campaign to hold on to the trophy they won at the last edition.

Ghana, who have never lifted the WAFCON title, have been drawn in Group D alongside the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon, Mali and Cape Verde.

A potential quarter-final meeting between Nigeria and Ghana remains on the cards, with the winners of Group C scheduled to face the runners-up in Group D in the last eight.

Ordega: Ghana ‘our main threat’

Speaking ahead of Nigeria’s opener, Ordega said that while several nations are capable of challenging the Super Falcons, she regards Ghana as the standout threat based on their recent form.

“The team I feel will challenge us in this WAFCON is Ghana because I watch one of their friendly match which they won,” Ordega told BRILA FM.

“There are other teams who will challenge us but I think Ghana is our main threat in the tournament.”

The forward did not name any of the other countries she expects to be competitive in Morocco, but her comments underline the respect within the Nigerian camp for their West African rivals.

Contrasting histories

Nigeria go into the tournament as the dominant force in women’s football on the continent, having claimed 10 WAFCON titles and consistently reached the latter stages of the competition.

Ghana, by contrast, are still seeking their first triumph at the finals, despite having come close on multiple occasions.

The Black Queens have faced the Super Falcons three times in WAFCON finals and have lost all three meetings, in 1998, 2002 and 2006.

Those defeats have contributed to Nigeria’s long-standing supremacy in African women’s football, but Ordega’s remarks suggest she expects a far sterner challenge from Ghana this time.

Tournament stakes

While Nigeria focus on extending their remarkable record with an 11th title, Ghana will travel with the dual motivation of ending their wait for a maiden championship and overturning their history against the Super Falcons.

With both sides targeting deep runs in the tournament and the draw allowing for a possible knockout clash, the prospect of another high-stakes meeting between the two West African rivals looms in the latter stages of WAFCON 2026.