Soccer
Super Falcons stars. Photo by Justina Aniefiok Copyright: IMAGO
Nigeria Super Falcons’ preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) have suffered another serious disruption, Soccernet.ng reports.
This development comes after the planned training tour of the United Kingdom was officially cancelled less than three months before the tournament in Morocco, as per Savid News.
The camp, initially scheduled to run from May 23 to 28, was expected to give the Super Falcons valuable game time and tactical preparation ahead of their title defence. But the arrangement collapsed after Jamaica withdrew from the proposed friendly programme because of internal administrative problems.
The cancellation has left head coach Justine Madugu and the Nigeria Football Federation searching again for opponents at a critical stage of preparations.
Madugu admitted that the NFF contacted several countries after Jamaica’s withdrawal, but many national teams were unwilling to face the reigning African champions outside an official competition period.
The timing of the proposed tour also created additional problems because the dates fall outside the FIFA international window, meaning several senior Super Falcons players were already expected to miss the trip due to club commitments in Europe and North America.
The latest setback continues a worrying pattern for Nigeria in 2026. A planned double-header against Cape Verde in April was previously cancelled, while a proposed four-nation invitational tournament in February also failed to materialise.
As a result, the Super Falcons have played only two matches this year, both against Cameroon in March. Nigeria won the tie 3-2 on aggregate, but concerns remain over the squad’s match sharpness ahead of a demanding continental tournament in Morocco.
Soccer WAFCON: Group C challenge now comes into sharper focus for Super Falcons
The disruption arrives at a delicate moment because Nigeria’s WAFCON campaign will begin on July 25 in Casablanca, where all three of their group-stage matches will be played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium.
The Super Falcons have been drawn in Group C alongside Malawi, Zambia and Egypt.
Nigeria will open against Malawi before facing Zambia in what is already viewed as the group’s biggest fixture. Zambia’s Copper Queens, led by star forward Barbra Banda, are still remembered for their heavy 5-0 defeat to Nigeria in the previous tournament’s quarter-finals and are expected to approach the meeting with revenge firmly in mind.
The clash against Egypt will then complete the group stage schedule as Nigeria attempt to secure a place in the knockout rounds of the newly expanded 16-team tournament.
The stakes are particularly high because WAFCON 2026 also doubles as qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Africa’s four semi-finalists will qualify automatically.
Nigeria remain the most successful side in African women’s football history, with 10 official WAFCON titles and a record of reaching at least the semi-finals in every edition since 1991. Their latest triumph came in 2025 when the Super Falcons defeated hosts Morocco 3-2 in a dramatic final to reclaim the continental crown.
The NFF is now expected to focus on the next FIFA international window between June 7 and 14, with plans underway to arrange a two-legged friendly against another WAFCON-qualified nation.
Imhonlamhen
Imhonlamhen is a football writer and editor at Soccernet.ng with over six years’ experience shaping its editorial voice. A lifelong Arsenal and Super Eagles fan, he combines engineering precision with training in journalism and digital media. He has covered four AFCONs and two Women’s AFCON tournaments, specialising in Super Eagles history and tracking Nigerian players worldwide, while keeping a close eye on the NPFL and emerging homegrown talents.
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