Ten-time African champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, will begin their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title defence against debutants Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday.
Head coach Justin Madugu has set his sights on victory, insisting that Nigeria’s ultimate objective is to win every match and retain the continental crown.
“Usually when you prepare for a competition, and you go for any tournament, your ultimate goal is to win. You approach every game as it comes and try as much as possible to make sure that you win all your games,” Madugu said at the pre-match press conference.
The Super Falcons head into the tournament in impressive form, having won eight of their last nine matches across all competitions.
Nigeria concluded their preparations with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania, with captain Rasheedat Ajibade opening the scoring before Esther Okoronkwo struck the winning goal late in the second half.
The reigning champions are aiming to win a record-extending 11th WAFCON title after defeating hosts Morocco 3-2 in a thrilling final at the previous edition.
Malawi, meanwhile, will be making their maiden appearance at the tournament. The Scorchers have endured a difficult run of form, losing five of their last six matches, including a 4-0 defeat to Ghana in their final warm-up game.
The debutants have also struggled in front of goal, failing to score in four of their last six matches. However, they recorded a draw against highly rated Zambia and comfortably defeated Angola in their final qualifying fixture.
Nigeria could be without defender Ashleigh Plumptre due to injury, while captain Ajibade and Okoronkwo are expected to spearhead the Falcons’ attack. Malawi, on the other hand, will look to the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, for inspiration in the final third.
The Super Falcons’ preparations were briefly overshadowed by an alleged theft incident at their hotel in Casablanca. Okoronkwo claimed that $700 was stolen from her wallet, while several other players were reportedly affected.
The forward later faced racist abuse on social media after speaking about the incident, with some users posting monkey emojis and other offensive comments.
Okoronkwo condemned the abuse but insisted that the team remained focused on its campaign.
“Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that. We move forward with pride, unity and determination. See you on the pitch,” she wrote on Instagram.
After their opening game against Malawi, Nigeria will face Zambia and Egypt in their remaining Group C matches as they begin their quest for an unprecedented 11th continental title.
