Nigeria’s Super Falcons will begin the defence of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown against Malawi on Tuesday, July 28, as the 2026 tournament gets underway in Morocco. The defending champions have been drawn in Group C alongside Malawi, Zambia and Egypt, with all three group matches scheduled to be played in Rabat.
Nigeria open their campaign against WAFCON debutants Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on July 28. They then face Zambia on August 1 in what is widely expected to be the defining fixture of the group. The Falcons round off the group stage against Egypt at the Olympic Stadium on August 5.
However, the Falcons will still enter every fixture in Group C as favourites given their pedigree on the continent. Head coach Justin Madugu has named a 25-player squad that leans heavily on proven quality while also making room for younger faces.
Chiamaka Nnadozie, who has been named Africa’s Best Goalkeeper for three straight years, returns as first choice, backed up by Comfort Erhabor and debutant Fatima Oloko, who is also the only home-based player in the entire squad.
The defence features Osinachi Ohale, Oluwatosin Demehin, Michelle Alozie, Rofiat Imuran, Shukurat Oladapo, Glory Ogbonna and Sikiratu Isah. In midfield, captain Rasheedat Ajibade is joined by Halimatu Ayinde, Deborah Abiodun, Toni Payne, Jennifer Echegini and Christy Ucheibe. Up front, six-time African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala leads a forward line that includes Folashade Ijamilusi, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Francisca Ordega, Gift Monday, Uchenna Kanu, Omorinsola Babajide and Joy Omewa.
Meanwhile, defender Ashleigh Plumptre missed out on selection after failing to recover fully from injury in time for the tournament, as [the Nigeria Football Federation’s official squad announcement]
Abiodun and Monday joined camp late after their original flight from the United States was cancelled, and as a result they missed Nigeria’s final warm-up friendly, a 2-1 win over Tanzania, according to [a report on the squad’s arrival in Morocco]
Beyond the trophy itself, there is a bigger financial incentive this year. The Confederation of African Football will award the champions a record 2 million dollars, making WAFCON 2026 the richest edition in the tournament’s history.
The prize money increase reflects CAF’s push to raise the profile and investment in women’s football across the continent. Nigeria head into the tournament as the most successful nation in WAFCON history, having already won the title ten times, in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2024. A win in Morocco would extend that record to eleven continental titles.
Consequently, expectations at home remain high, with the Super Falcons once again positioned as the team every other side in the competition wants to beat.
The tournament also carries extra significance beyond the trophy. WAFCON 2026 doubles as Africa’s qualifying pathway for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, and any team that reaches the semi-finals automatically books one of the continent’s four World Cup slots. That means the group stage against Malawi, Zambia and Egypt is only the first hurdle toward a much bigger target.
Nigeria’s tournament begins against Malawi on July 28, before the group-deciding clash with Zambia on August 1 and the final group match against Egypt on August 5. Should the Super Falcons progress as expected, their focus will then shift toward the knockout stages, where a semi-final appearance alone would already secure World Cup qualification regardless of how far they go from there.
