WAFCON
After Super Eagles’ big win, Super Falcons plot another doomsday for Benin in WAFCON Qualifier
The 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo, will host another chapter in the Nigeria–Benin football rivalry on Friday, when 10-time African champions, the Super Falcons, take on the Benin Republic’s Amazons in the first leg of their final qualifying fixture for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
For the Falcons, the mission is clear — to secure a commanding victory similar to the 4-0 thrashing their male counterparts, the Super Eagles, handed the Beninese side in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers earlier this year. The Cup holders are determined to make the return leg in Nigeria next Tuesday a mere formality.
Head Coach Justine Madugu, who has 19 players in camp, expressed confidence that his team will deliver another performance worthy of Nigeria’s football pedigree.
“We have a team that will go out there and make us proud,” Madugu said ahead of the game. “Yes, we would have loved to have Jennifer (Echegini), but we can only pray for her quick recovery. On Friday, we will play our game and seek the goals that will put us in good stead ahead of the return leg.”
With Echegini sidelined by injury, Madugu is expected to deploy U.S.-based Deborah Abiodun in midfield alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe. In goal, Chiamaka Nnadozie — widely rated among the best in the world — will lead a defence comprising Michelle Alozie, Tosin Demehin, Osinachi Ohale, and Ashley Plumptre.
In attack, Nigeria’s hopes rest on a potent forward line featuring six-time African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Joy Omewa, and China-based Folashade Ijamilusi, who impressed in the Falcons’ title-winning campaign in Morocco this summer.
The match kicks off at 3 p.m. local time (4 p.m. Nigeria time) with Gambian referee Ngum Fatou in charge.
Next year’s WAFCON, also to be staged in Morocco, will serve as the gateway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with all semi-finalists earning automatic qualification. For the Super Falcons, however, the immediate goal is to assert continental dominance once more — and perhaps, just like the Super Eagles, put four past their Beninese neighbours to make a statement of intent.
SUPER FALCONS TO FACE AMAZONS:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels)
Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France); Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Forwards: Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Joy Omewa (Fortuna Hjorrin FC, Denmark); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Asisat Oshoala (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens)
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Super Falcons Head Coach Justine Madugu says he remains confident in Nigeria’s chances against Benin Republic in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final qualifying round, despite the absence of key midfielder Jennifer Echegini due to injury.
Echegini, who famously scored Nigeria’s winning goal in the 2024 WAFCON final against hosts Morocco in Rabat, has been ruled out of both legs after sustaining a hamstring injury during Paris Saint-Germain’s league match on Monday night.
Her absence means the Super Falcons will have to do without one of their most creative midfielders when they face Benin in the first leg on Friday at the Stade de Kégué in Lomé, and again in the return leg next Tuesday at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja.
Despite the setback, Coach Madugu expressed optimism, saying the squad’s depth and experience give him confidence that Nigeria can still secure qualification.
Team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who also plays for PSG, is expected to arrive in Lomé on Tuesday night, along with several key foreign-based players: Osinachi Ohale and Chinwendu Ihezuo from Mexico, Michelle Alozie and Deborah Abiodun from the USA, Esther Okoronkwo from Canada, and Shukurat Oladipo from Italy.
The Falcons’ camp in Lomé grew from nine to eleven players on Monday night following the arrivals of Christy Ucheibe (Portugal) and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, while Ashley Plumptre, the Saudi Arabia-based defender, joined the team on Tuesday afternoon.
Madugu is expected to name his final matchday squad after the team’s last training session on Thursday, as Nigeria look to continue their impressive record of qualifying for every edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations since its inception.
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African Champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons have arrived in Lomé, Togo, to begin preparations for their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) final qualifying first-leg encounter against Benin Republic, scheduled for Friday.
Training sessions will commence on Monday afternoon, according to Head Coach Justine Madugu, as the Super Falcons begin fine-tuning tactics for the crucial tie at the 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué.
Among the early arrivals in camp is six-time African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, who headlines a strong squad that also includes new invitee Joy Omewa, Turkey-based defender Tosin Demehin, China-based forward Folashade Ijamilusi, and five home-based players: goalkeeper Anderline Mgbechi, defenders Blessing Ilivieda and Miracle Usani, midfielder Taiwo Afolabi, and forward Kafayat Mafisere.
The match, which kicks off at 3 p.m. Togo time (4 p.m. Nigeria time), is part of the final qualifying series for the 2026 Women’s AFCON to be hosted by Morocco — a tournament that also serves as Africa’s qualifying event for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The return leg is scheduled for Tuesday, 28 October 2025, at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex, Abeokuta, where Nigeria will hope to seal qualification before their home crowd.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Ngum Fatou from The Gambia as centre referee for the first leg. She will be assisted by Mariem Chedad and Hamedine Houleye from Mauritania, while another Gambian, Isatou Touray, will serve as fourth official. Halimatou Hamidou from Niger Republic will act as match commissioner, with Martha Nyekanyeka from Malawi as referee assessor.
With spirits high and key players already in camp, the Super Falcons are determined to continue their proud record as Africa’s most successful women’s football team — and take one step closer to defending their continental crown.
SUPER FALCONS FOR WAFCON QUALIFYING FIXTURE VS BÉNIN:
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels); Rachael Unachukwu (Nasarawa Amazons)
Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels)
Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France); Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint Germain, France); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Forwards: Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Joy Omewa (Fortuna Hjorrin FC, Denmark); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Asisat Oshoala (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens)
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The race for places at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will be decided in October, with defending champions Nigeria set to face neighbours Benin Republic in the final qualifying round.
The Super Falcons, 10-time continental champions, will begin their campaign away from home, as Benin host the first leg before Nigeria welcomes the She-Cheetahs for the return fixture. Both matches are scheduled within the international window of 20–28 October 2025.
Benin reached this stage after eliminating Sierra Leone 5–2 on aggregate, recording 2–1 and 3–1 victories in Togo and Monrovia, respectively, as both nations were unable to host games at CAF-approved venues.
Elsewhere, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses face a tougher test against Algeria’s Lady Fennecs, who have been steadily rising in women’s football.
Algeria impressed at the last WAFCON in Morocco, holding Nigeria to a goalless draw in the group stage before reaching the quarter-finals, where they lost to Ghana on penalties.
The Lionesses, twice runners-up at WAFCON (2014 and 2016, losing both finals to Nigeria), failed to qualify for the last edition and will be desperate to return to the continental stage.
Other Key Fixtures
- Senegal, quarter-finalists in Morocco last year, will battle Côte d’Ivoire in another high-profile clash.
- In total, 11 winners from the final qualifying round will join hosts Morocco at the finals.
The 2026 WAFCON, set for March 2026 in Morocco, carries added significance as the top four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Africa also has two extra slots available via an intercontinental play-off, replicating the pathway that helped Nigeria and others secure places at the 2023 edition in Australia and New Zealand.
Meanwhile, FIFA has confirmed that the Women’s World Cup will expand further in 2031, with 48 teams expected to compete in a tournament co-hosted by Mexico and the United States.
2026 WOMEN AFCON FINAL ROUND FIXTURES
- Angola Vs Malawi
- DR Congo Vs South Africa
- Tanzania Vs Ethiopia
- Namibia Vs Zambia
- Burkina Faso Vs Togo
- Algeria Vs Cameroon
- Egypt Vs Ghana
- Kenya Vs Gambia
- Benin Republic Vs Nigeria
- Cape Verde Vs Mali
- Senegal Vs Cote d’Ivoire
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