The Nigerian senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, will officially initiate their intensive preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a training camp scheduled to open on Friday, February 20.
Head coach Justine Madugu intends to assemble the squad in Abuja for an initial domestic phase before the team departs for Cote d’Ivoire. The delegation will travel to Abidjan to compete in the highly anticipated WAFU B invitational tournament, an event designed to sharpen the players’ competitive edge ahead of the continental finals.
Running from February 27 through March 7, the invitational will feature fellow African powerhouses Ghana and Senegal, providing a rigorous environment for the Nigerian side to test their tactical readiness. Beyond the regional tournament, the Nigerian Football Federation plans to organize several additional high-profile friendlies to ensure the defending champions maintain their peak physical condition. The Super Falcons carry a heavy burden of expectation as they enter the tournament both as titleholders and as favorites to secure passage to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The 2026 WAFCON serves a dual purpose, acting as the primary qualifying route for African nations seeking a spot on the global stage next year. All four teams that successfully reach the semi-final stage of the competition will automatically earn their berths for the World Cup in South America. Drawn into a competitive Group C, the Super Falcons must navigate fixtures against Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi to keep their championship defense and World Cup aspirations alive.
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