Super Falcons Face Ghana In Final WAFCON Tune-Up as Morocco Camp Intensifies

•  The Super Falcons have opened their training camp in Casablanca, Morocco, in final preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
•  Nigeria will take on West African rivals Ghana in a high-profile international friendly this Saturday at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli.
•  Led by Head Coach Justine Madugu, the squad features key stars like Rasheedat Ajibade, Chiamaka Nnadozie, and Asisat Oshoala as they aim to defend their title.
•  The tournament, which serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, will see the Falcons compete in Group C against Malawi, Zambia, and Egypt.

July 15 , (THEWILL) — Nigeria’s Super Falcons will step up preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) when they face West African rivals Ghana in an international friendly this Saturday in Casablanca, Morocco.

The friendly forms part of the Falcons’ final build-up to the continental championship, which runs from July 19 to Aug. 8, with Nigeria aiming to successfully defend their title and extend their record haul of African crowns to 11.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Head Coach Justine Madugu’s side opened their training camp in Casablanca on Monday, ahead of their opening Group C fixture against Malawi in Rabat on July 28.

As of Tuesday afternoon, 10 players had arrived at the team’s Marriott Hotel camp, while midfielder Toni Payne was expected to link up with the squad on Wednesday as preparations gathered momentum.

Madugu oversaw the team’s first training session at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli on Tuesday, with the early arrivals beginning tactical drills and fitness work ahead of Saturday’s friendly.

Among those already in camp are captain Rasheedat Ajibade, first-choice goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Fatima Oloko, defenders Oluwatosin Demehin, Glory Ogbonna, Christy Ucheibe, Shukurat Oladipo, and Rofiat Imuran, midfielder Jennifer Echegini, and six-time African Women’s Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala.

Saturday’s match against Ghana’s Black Queens will also be played at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli, with kick-off scheduled for 4 p.m. local time.

The fixture revives one of African women’s football’s oldest rivalries. Ghana were runners-up to Nigeria at the inaugural edition of the competition hosted by Nigeria in 1998, and the encounter is expected to provide both teams with a valuable test before the tournament begins.

Nigeria enters the championship as the most successful nation in WAFCON history, having won the title 10 times. The Super Falcons have been drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and tournament debutants Malawi.

The reigning Champions will open their campaign against Malawi before facing Zambia in what is expected to be the toughest fixture in the group. They will conclude the group stage against Egypt as they seek to secure a place in the knockout rounds.

Beyond the race for continental glory, qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil is also at stake. The four teams that reach the WAFCON semi-finals will qualify automatically for the global tournament, while the fifth-placed team will advance to an intercontinental playoff for another opportunity to book a place.

The tournament draw sees hosts Morocco grouped with Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya in Group A, while defending runners-up South Africa will face Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania in Group B. Group D comprises Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde.

With more players expected to arrive in camp over the coming days, Madugu will be hoping his squad builds momentum quickly as Nigeria begins another quest for continental dominance in Morocco.