Nigeria international Rasheedat Ajibade has voiced concerns about the Super Falcons’ preparation ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and the team’s campaign for World Cup qualification.
The forward, a key figure for the nine-time African champions, expressed frustration over what she described as a lack of urgency and intensity in the squad’s build-up.
“We are not just preparing for the Women’s African Cup of Nations, we are also fighting for World Cup qualification… so why are we not preparing with the seriousness and intensity this demands… abeg wetin be all this one, for how long?” Ajibade said.
The Super Falcons, one of Africa’s most successful women’s national teams, are scheduled to kick off preparations with a double-header friendly against Cape Verde later this month.
Ajibade’s remarks have sparked debate over the team’s readiness and approach to upcoming competitions.
With both continental glory and a spot at the global stage on the line, attention is now turning to how the technical staff and football authorities will address the concerns raised from within the squad.
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.
