National Teams
WAFCON 2026: Ajibade demands winning start as Nigeria captain hails Malawi’s progress
Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade has insisted that only victory will satisfy Nigeria when they begin the defence of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title against Malawi on Tuesday.
The reigning African champions open their Group B campaign at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, with Ajibade emphasizing that securing all three points is the only performance that truly matters in tournament football.
The Atletico Madrid forward acknowledged that attractive football is desirable but stressed that results remain the ultimate measure of success at a major championship.
“A good performance from the Super Falcons will be to win. Three points, and that’s all we think is a good performance for us because that’s all that matters in this tournament,” Ajibade said.
“Of course, you want to think about how you play, how you perform, the tactical and all of those brilliances. But if you do all of that and you don’t win, I don’t think that’s going to count for anything in this game, in this tournament.”
While Nigeria enter the competition as overwhelming favourites, Ajibade refused to dismiss Malawi’s credentials, pointing to the remarkable progress made by women’s football in the Southern African nation.
She credited Malawi’s qualification for their maiden WAFCON appearance as evidence of deliberate investment in the women’s game, highlighting the emergence of internationally recognised stars such as sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga.
“It shows the progress they’re making. And it shows the intentionality of their federation or their nation investing in women’s football,” she said.
“And also, some of their players are also playing in top-flight leagues as well. It shows that the future of women’s football is really bright with intentional investment and consistency all round.”
Beyond the tournament, Ajibade also called for greater commitment to creating safe and supportive environments for female athletes across Africa.
According to the Super Falcons skipper, sustained investment and improved welfare structures are essential to attracting and retaining more girls in sport.
“When you create the right environment, it increases participation and it increases retention.”
“Athletes need to feel safe, comfortable and able to express themselves.”
Ajibade will lead Nigeria into Tuesday’s encounter hoping to inspire the Super Falcons to another successful campaign as they chase a record-extending 11th WAFCON title and a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
