By Wale Mustapha
Rasheedat Ajibade, captain of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, has declared that the team’s ambition now extends beyond continental dominance, with a clear focus on establishing themselves among the world’s elite women’s football teams.
The Super Falcons remain Africa’s most decorated women’s national team, having claimed 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles and qualified for every FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament’s inception. Yet, translating regional success into consistent global impact has remained a challenge.
Ajibade, speaking to FIFA.com, emphasized the team’s drive to compete at the highest international level.
“We don’t just want to be African champions anymore. We want to be global contenders,” she said.
“We want to make sure that we surpass the level that we currently hold, because we know we have the quality and the talent,” Ajibade added.
The Super Falcons secured their place at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after a 3-1 aggregate victory over Benin Republic. WAFCON 2026 will also serve as the qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, set to be hosted in Brazil.
As preparations intensify, Ajibade’s remarks underscore the team’s ambition to leverage their continental success as a springboard to global prominence.
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.
