{"id":860316,"date":"2025-07-05T19:16:04","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T00:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/05\/competing-to-win-it-south-africa-morocco-warned-as-super-falcons-captain-sets-wafcon-target\/"},"modified":"2025-07-05T19:16:04","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T00:16:04","slug":"competing-to-win-it-south-africa-morocco-warned-as-super-falcons-captain-sets-wafcon-target","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/05\/competing-to-win-it-south-africa-morocco-warned-as-super-falcons-captain-sets-wafcon-target\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cCompeting to win it\u201d \u2013 South Africa, Morocco warned as Super Falcons captain sets WAFCON target"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer <\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><strong>Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has made her intentions clear ahead of the <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Wafcon\">Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations<\/a> in Morocco, <a href=\"https:\/\/Soccernet.ng\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>South Africa are the tournament\u2019s defending champions while hosts Morocco reached the final last time out but Ajibade is convinced that <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Nigeria\">Nigeria<\/a> will not just be showing up \u2013 they are showing up to win.<\/p>\n<p>Having previously lifted the WAFCON trophy in 2018 and clinched the Golden Boot at the 2022 edition, Ajibade now eyes a new milestone: leading Nigeria to a record-extending tenth continental title as skipper.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_169145\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-169145\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/07\/Gu_5IuwXwAAvYXd-750x938.jpeg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Falcons star Rasheedat Ajibade\" width=\"750\" height=\"938\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-169145\">Nigeria Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<h3>What did the Super Falcons skipper say?<\/h3>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cComing back to Morocco and playing this tournament is always a dream come true for me because it\u2019s the biggest competition in Africa, that\u2019s what makes it so special for me,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/ngsuper_falcons\/status\/1941438194417009017?s=46\" target=\"_blank\">Ajibade said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs a team and personally, we are going to be competing to win it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Ajibade, who skippered Nigeria at the 2024 Olympic Games, will be wearing the captain\u2019s armband for the first time at a major African tournament.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_163628\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-163628\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/06\/FXpwzhZUUAACyio-750x925.jpeg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade\" width=\"750\" height=\"925\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-163628\">Nigeria Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The former <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Atletico\">Atl\u00e9tico Madrid<\/a> star is under no illusions about the weight of expectation. But far from being daunted, the electrifying forward insists she\u2019s embracing the pressure with confidence.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s a privilege and a huge honour to captain the Super Falcons of Nigeria. It\u2019s a huge responsibility and I do not take it for granted, but to be honest, there\u2019s no pressure at all,\u201d Ajibade said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven if there is, I\u2019ve learned to manage every situation that I find myself and I have to perceive it positively and use it to help the team in the best possible way.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<h4><a href=\"https:\/\/www.whatsapp.com\/channel\/0029VagMHLcA89MZvw0Btc21\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Our Sports News First \u2013 Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!<\/a><\/h4>\n<h4>READ MORE\u00a0<\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/07\/nigeria-super-falcons-wafcon-nnadozie.html\">Nigeria: Super Falcons unveil squad numbers for WAFCON \u2013 Babajide gets No.2, Nnadozie picks 16<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/07\/nigeria-tunisia-super-falcons-wafcon.html\">Nigeria vs Tunisia: Match preview as Super Falcons open WAFCON campaign against North African underdogs<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/07\/super-falcons-wafcon-prize-money.html\">\u20a61.5 billion temptation: Super Falcons eye historic payday as CAF doubles WAFCON prize money<\/a><\/li>\n<li>\u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/07\/nigeria-barcelona-super-falcons-wafcon-2024.html\">Win every game\u201d- Nigerian star with 117 goals for Barcelona tells Super Falcons ahead of WAFCON 2024<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The Super Falcons, nine-time champions and by far the most dominant force in African women\u2019s football, open their 2025 campaign on July 6 with a headline clash against Tunisia. They will also face Botswana and Algeria in Group B.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_158734\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-158734\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/04\/imago1047953313-750x500.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Falcons\" width=\"750\" height=\"500\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-158734\">Nigeria Super Falcons legend: Asisat Oshoala. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Veteran heads like Osinachi Ohale, Francisca Ordega, and <a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/?s=Oshoala\">Asisat Oshoala<\/a> bring invaluable experience to the side, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie \u2014 Africa\u2019s best for the second year running \u2014 stands as a formidable last line of defence.<\/p>\n<p>Coach Justin Madugu\u2019s squad also boasts a blend of proven talent and emerging stars.<\/p>\n<p>Defenders like Michelle Alozie, Ashleigh Plumptre, and Tosin Demehin have impressed in the buildup, while midfield enforcers Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde, Deborah Abiodun and Jennifer Echegini are expected to set the tempo.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_161826\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-161826\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2025\/05\/imago1039556802-750x1125.jpg\" alt=\"Soccer Nigeria Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala\" width=\"750\" height=\"1125\"  ><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-161826\">Nigeria Super Falcons star Asisat Oshoala. Photo by IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>In attack, Nigeria is stacked. Oshoala, Ihezuo, Onumonu, and Babajide offer variety and potency, with Ajibade\u2019s leadership and versatility acting as the glue in a frontline built for damage.<\/p>\n<p>Nigeria&#8217;s preparations have been boosted by an impressive goalless draw against Portugal in Lisbon and two morale-boosting victories over Cameroon and Ghana.<\/p>\n<p>With $1 million on offer for the champions \u2014 the largest prize money ever awarded in WAFCON history \u2014 motivation is sky-high.<\/p>\n<p>As the 13th edition kicks off in Morocco, the Super Falcons are not there to make up the numbers. They\u2019re ready to write another chapter of dominance \u2014 and Ajibade is poised to lead them to it.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Soccer Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele\" src=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/app\/uploads\/2024\/12\/DSC_0327-copy-150x150.jpg\"  height=\"80\" width=\"80\">\t\t<\/p>\n<div>\n<h3>\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/author\/imhonlamhen-eronmhonsele\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele\t\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/h3>\n<p>\n\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.<\/p>\n<p>From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/soccernet.ng\/2025\/07\/morocco-nigeria-super-falcons-wafcon.html\" class=\"button purchase\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read More<\/a>Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Soccer Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has made her intentions clear ahead of the Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports. South Africa are the tournament\u2019s defending champions while hosts Morocco reached the final last time out but Ajibade is convinced that Nigeria will not just be showing up \u2013 they are showing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":860317,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[36971,42720,2005],"tags":[44104,9303],"class_list":{"0":"post-860316","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-it","8":"category-competing","9":"category-soccer","10":"tag-it","11":"tag-competing"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860316","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860316"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860316\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/860317"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860316"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860316"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860316"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}