{"id":904780,"date":"2026-05-10T07:13:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-10T12:13:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/10\/super-falcons-head-to-uk-as-nigeria-intensify-2026-wafcon-preparations\/"},"modified":"2026-05-10T07:13:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-10T12:13:11","slug":"super-falcons-head-to-uk-as-nigeria-intensify-2026-wafcon-preparations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2026\/05\/10\/super-falcons-head-to-uk-as-nigeria-intensify-2026-wafcon-preparations\/","title":{"rendered":"Super Falcons head to UK as Nigeria intensify 2026 WAFCON preparations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Soccer <\/p>\n

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\"Soccer<\/p>\n

Super Falcons. Photo by Mansa Ayoola Copyright: IMAGO<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Nigeria\u2019s Super Falcons<\/a> will travel to the United Kingdom later this month for a short training tour as preparations continue for the 2026 Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Soccernet.ng<\/a> reports<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The camp is expected to run from May 23 to 28, with one friendly game likely to be played during the trip, according to SavidNews<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Although the tour falls outside the official FIFA international window, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to organise the camp to keep the team active ahead of next year\u2019s continental tournament and the qualification race for the 2027 FIFA Women\u2019s World Cup in Brazil. <\/p>\n

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Asisat Oshoala, Deborah Ajibola Abiodun, Taiwo Tewogbola Afolabi and Folashade Florence Ijamilusi of Super Falcons. Copyright: xShengolpixsxImago<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The UK programme also comes after a frustrating March international break <\/a>when the Super Falcons were unable to play the friendly matches initially planned by the federation.<\/p>\n

Head coach Justine Madugu is expected to use the camp to look at fresh faces and widen his options before the defence of Nigeria\u2019s continental crown.<\/p>\n

Some regular players may miss the UK trip because of club commitments in Europe and elsewhere, but many of them are expected to return for the next FIFA window scheduled between June 7 and 14.<\/p>\n

\"Soccer
Super Falcons stars. Photo by Justina Aniefiok Copyright: IMAGO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Soccer WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons building towards \u2018Mission 11′<\/h2>\n

Nigeria go into the preparations as African champions after reclaiming the WAFCON title in dramatic fashion last summer in Morocco.<\/p>\n

The Super Falcons completed a stunning comeback to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final in Rabat after trailing 2-0 at half-time. Goals from Ghizlane Chebbak and Sana\u00e2 Mssoudy had placed Morocco in control before Nigeria fought back in the second half.<\/p>\n

Esther Okoronkwo started the comeback from the penalty spot in the 64th minute before Folashade Ijamilusi equalised moments later after a strong run and assist from Okoronkwo. Substitute Jennifer Echegini then scored the winning goal in the 88th minute from an Okoronkwo free-kick as Nigeria secured a record-extending 10th WAFCON title.<\/p>\n

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New African champions, Nigeria Super Falcons [Photo credit: CAF\/X]<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The triumph also saw Rasheedat Ajibade win the Player of the Tournament award, while Chiamaka Nnadozie was named Best Goalkeeper.<\/p>\n

Since lifting the trophy, Madugu has been tasked with leading what many around the team now describe as \u2018Mission 11′, Nigeria\u2019s push for another African title at the 2026 tournament in Morocco. The Super Falcons have already been drawn in Group C alongside Egypt, Malawi and Zambia.<\/p>\n

The UK tour is expected to help the technical crew improve team chemistry, assess emerging talents and maintain Nigeria\u2019s status as the dominant force in African women\u2019s football ahead of the tournament in July 2026.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen\t\t\t\t<\/a>
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\n\t\t\t\tImhonlamhen is a football writer and editor at Soccernet.ng with over six years\u2019 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\u2019s AFCON tournaments, specialising in Super Eagles history and tracking Nigerian players worldwide, while keeping a close eye on the NPFL and emerging homegrown talents.\t\t\t<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Read More<\/a>Imhonlamhen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Soccer Super Falcons. Photo by Mansa Ayoola Copyright: IMAGO Nigeria\u2019s Super Falcons will travel to the United Kingdom later this month for a short training tour as preparations continue for the 2026 Women\u2019s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Soccernet.ng reports. The camp is expected to run from May 23 to 28, with one friendly […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":904781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22408,2005,4578],"tags":[21579,6323],"class_list":{"0":"post-904780","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-falcons","8":"category-soccer","9":"category-super","10":"tag-falcons","11":"tag-super"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/904780","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=904780"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/904780\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/904781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=904780"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=904780"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=904780"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}