Super Falcons Face Ghana in Final WAFCON Warm-Up Clash Ahead of Morocco 2026

Defending champions Nigeria will take on long-time rivals Ghana in an international friendly on Saturday in Casablanca as the Super Falcons intensify preparations for the 14th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals, which kick off in Morocco on Sunday.

Nigeria, the competition’s most successful team with 10 titles, opened their training camp in Casablanca on Monday as Head Coach Justine Madugu began final preparations for the team’s Group C opener against Malawi in Rabat on Tuesday, July 28.

By Tuesday afternoon, 10 players had reported to the team’s base at the Hotel Marriott in Casablanca. Midfielder Toni Payne, who recently completed a move from Everton Women to Inter Milan Women, is expected to join the squad on Wednesday.

Madugu led his players to the Stade El Arbi Zaouli on Tuesday for their first training session in Morocco. Among those already in camp are captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie and Fatima Oloko, defenders Oluwatosin Demehin, Glory Ogbonna, Shukurat Oladipo and Rofiat Imuran, midfielder Jennifer Echegini, and forward Asisat Oshoala.

Saturday’s friendly against Ghana’s Black Queens will also be played at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli, with kick-off scheduled for 4 p.m. The fixture rekindles one of African women’s football’s fiercest rivalries. Ghana were runners-up to Nigeria in the inaugural Women’s AFCON, hosted by Nigeria in 1998.

Following the warm-up match, the Super Falcons will begin their Group C campaign against Malawi on July 28 before facing Zambia on August 1 and Egypt on August 5.

The 2026 WAFCON also serves as a qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. All four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification, while the fifth-placed team will advance to an intercontinental playoff tournament early next year.

WAFCON 2026 Groups

Group A (Rabat): Morocco, Algeria, Senegal, Kenya

Group B (Casablanca): South Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Tanzania

Group C (Rabat): Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, Malawi

Group D (Casablanca): Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Cape Verde

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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