WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons' Clash with NFF Puts Nigeria's Dominance at Risk

Football fans, this week, got a glimpse of the Super Falcons’ shoddy preparations for this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, WAFCON.

The captain of the team, Rasheedat Ajibade, was forced to lash out at the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

Ajibade wrote on social media: “We are not just preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, we are also fighting for World Cup qualification.

“Our performance at WAFCON will determine whether we qualify for the World Cup, so why are we not preparing with the seriousness and intensity this demands? This is not something to take lightly, for God’s sake!

“I can’t cry. What is all this and for how long?”

Although this is not a surprise, it is both shocking and frustrating that these kinds of issues persist in Nigerian football.

The team has barely utilized any of the FIFA windows to play friendlies, as it appears that the football house is uninterested in ensuring the Falcons have another successful outing.

“Ajibade’s outburst is another page in the shameful book the NFF is writing,” Victor Oluwafemi, the Senior Social Media Manager at Sporty TV tells DAILY POST.

“She is untouchable, so I don’t expect repercussions.

“If it were athletics/track field, I am sure a large percentage of them would have switched allegiances.

“Hopefully her cries would generate some empathy from the federation.

“I vividly remember when the team teamed up with FIFPRO through a videotape in calling out the federation for unpaid salaries.”

The rescheduled WAFCON will serve as the official qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The Super Eagles have already missed out on this summer’s World Cup in North America. If the NFF does not sort out itself, the Falcons could lose out on a chance to make a record 10th tournament appearance.

“It is regrettably sad that the most successful national team in Nigeria are always on the receiving side of NFF’s incompetence and nonchalant attitude,” Oluwafemi said.

“For a team who don’t have proper training kits, I am not surprised that the NFF has neglected them.

“It’s a shame and a national disgrace. People should be losing their jobs for such.

“The women have thick skins and this might just motivate them to win the title (maybe get another $100k for the efforts).”

Last year in Morocco, Nigeria beat the hosts in the final to claim a record 10th women’s title.

But on the sheer evidence from that tournament, most teams in Africa are catching up quickly on the Falcons.

One wonders if they will be able to defend their trophy this time around.

“For all of the growth and impressive display from the women teams in Africa, Nigeria remains the best and favourite to successfully defend their title,” Oluwafemi said.

“Also, winning ten titles certainly puts the team on a pedestal that others can only dream to achieve.

“And we have done this under poor administrative and welfare conditions.

“I think we have the quality to go all the way again and maybe South Africa is the only strong contender who might wrestle us for the title.”