Super Falcons embrace favourites’ tag as Nigeria chase World Cup place and 11th African title in Morocco

Nigeria will arrive at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco openly embracing their status as the team to beat, with head coach Justine Madugu and his Super Falcons squad targeting both World Cup qualification and an 11th continental crown.

Africa’s most decorated women’s national side travel as defending champions and 10-time winners of the competition, underlining a dominance built over decades. Nigeria also remain the highest-ranked African nation in the FIFA women’s rankings, a position that reflects their sustained superiority on the continent.

Madugu has been explicit about the dual mission facing his team at Morocco 2026, a tournament that doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.

“The prochaine CAN sera qualificative pour la Coupe du Monde 2027. Le premier objectif sera donc de composter notre billet pour le Mondial. Le second sera de conserver notre couronne et de ramener la coupe a Abuja. Nous serons l’equipe a abattre, nous detenons le bien precieux que tout le monde convoite, mais nous serons prets a aller au combat,” said the Super Falcons coach.

Morocco return after dramatic 2026 qualification

Nigeria booked their place at these finals with little drama. They beat Benin 2-0 in the first leg of their qualifier before a 1-1 draw in the return fixture comfortably sealed progression. Nothing in that campaign suggested a side in decline or struggling for form.

The Super Falcons now head back to Morocco with vivid memories of their last Women’s AFCON final there, when they showcased the resilience that has come to define the team. Trailing 2-0 at half-time against hosts Morocco’s Lionesses of the Atlas, Nigeria mounted a stirring fightback to win 3-2 and retain their title. That comeback only reinforced their aura across African women’s football.

Madugu is clear that the bar has not been lowered. Securing a place at the 2027 World Cup is framed as a non-negotiable target, while successfully defending the continental trophy is treated as a parallel objective rather than a secondary ambition. In his view, the pressure attached to being reigning champions and standard-bearers for African women’s football is something the squad is prepared to shoulder.

Group C assignment and key players

Nigeria have been drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt and Malawi. It is a section the Super Falcons approach with confidence but also with a recognition that every opponent presents a potential hurdle in a rapidly evolving African landscape.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade will lead a group laden with experience and individual quality. Forward Asisat Oshoala remains one of the continent’s most renowned names, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie provides authority and assurance at the back. Attacker Esther Okoronkwo adds further threat in the final third, with the squad profile suggesting Nigeria possess enough talent to influence any match they play.

Madugu acknowledges that Nigeria’s record and reputation make them a target for every opponent, yet the message from the camp is one of readiness rather than anxiety. For the coach, the quest to keep hold of the trophy and secure a World Cup berth are intertwined ambitions that can drive performance throughout the tournament.

Rising competition across the continent

Okoronkwo has voiced a note of caution, stressing that Nigeria cannot rely on history alone in a competition where the gap between nations is steadily narrowing.

“C’est une competition feroce, n’importe quelle equipe peut creer la surprise. On ne peut sous-estimer personne. Il faut aborder chaque adversaire avec le plus grand serieux. Aucune equipe n’est parfaite, nous avons toutes des aspects a ameliorer. Le secret reside dans notre capacite a identifier nos faiblesses pour les gommer ensemble. Nous devons jouer avec de l’alchimie, de la solidarite, repondre present dans les grands rendez-vous et faire bloc,” the forward warned.

Her words reflect a broader reality. At each Women’s AFCON, the competitive balance across Africa tightens, with more nations capable of challenging former monopolies. Nigeria may arrive with 10 titles and the memory of that remarkable final turnaround in Morocco, but the 2026 edition offers no guarantees.

As the Super Falcons prepare to defend their crown on Moroccan soil once more, they do so knowing that their record makes them the benchmark – and the target – for the rest of the continent, while the sporting challenge that awaits them over the coming weeks remains as demanding as ever.