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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