By Oluwadamilola Olaleye
Nigeria head coach Justin Madugu has expressed optimism about his team’s chances of qualifying for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) ahead of their decisive return leg against Benin Republic.
Nigeria’s 10-time African champions hold a strong advantage following a 2–0 first-leg victory in Lome, where Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo found the back of the net to hand the Falcons a commanding lead.
Despite the cushion, Madugu has urged his players to remain focused, warning that the Benin Amazons could pose a greater challenge when they meet again in Abeokuta.
“We are looking forward to a tough game from the Beninoise, but we will be ready by putting up a good performance with the ultimate goal of qualifying for the 2026 WAFCON, where we hope to retain our title and secure a World Cup spot in Brazil in 2027,” Madugu said.
He acknowledged the strength of Benin’s squad, which features several foreign-based players, and cautioned against complacency.
“The Amazons, with about 10 professional players from Germany, Morocco, France and Equatorial Guinea, gave a good account of themselves in the first leg. Underrating any team in Africa now is at your own peril. We are not taking anything for granted or leaving anything to chance. We’ll be ready to go all out for victory.”
The crucial second leg will be played at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta. The aggregate winner will advance to the 14th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, scheduled to take place in Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
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.
