Nigeria vs Malawi: Ayinde fires WAFCON warning to BK Häcken teammate Chinzimu

Super Falcons midfielder Halimatu Ayinde says club friendships will take a back seat when Nigeria begin their quest for a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title against Malawi on Monday evening.

The experienced midfielder is set for a unique reunion in Nigeria’s Group B opener, where she will line up against BK Häcken teammate Faith Chinzimu for the first time at senior international level.

Ayinde, who is preparing for her sixth WAFCON appearance, is also chasing a fourth continental crown as the defending champions begin another campaign with ambitions of extending their dominance in African women’s football.

Speaking ahead of the encounter, the 30-year-old admitted that while facing a club teammate adds an emotional dimension to the match, both players understand that national pride takes precedence once the whistle blows.

“It’s special because it’s the first time we are playing against each other on an international stage, but we are here to win,” Ayinde exclusively told NigeriaFootball.ng.

“I want to win and the same goes for her as well, so we will continue our friendship after the match. Tonight we’re no friends.”

Ayinde’s comments reflect the competitive mindset within the Super Falcons camp as Nigeria seek to make a winning start against a Malawi side making its debut at the continental showpiece.

One of the most experienced players in Justine Madugu’s squad, Ayinde also challenged her teammates to remain fully focused throughout the tournament, warning against complacency despite Nigeria’s status as favourites.

“Let’s stay focused and avoid any form of distractions, take one game at a time, respect all opponents and be hungry for more till the end of the competition.”

Having lifted the WAFCON trophy on three previous occasions, Ayinde is aiming to add another chapter to her decorated international career while helping Nigeria defend the title they won at the last edition.

The Super Falcons open their campaign against Malawi before facing Zambia and Egypt in the remaining Group B fixtures as they pursue a historic 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown and another statement of their supremacy on the continent.

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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