Cape Verde have withdrawn from their April friendlies against the Super Falcons, forcing the NFF into a last-minute scramble for a replacement opponent ahead of WAFCON 2026 in July.
Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations hit another snag on Thursday after Cape Verde pulled out of two scheduled pre-tournament friendlies. The matches were set for April 15 and April 18 at Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State, but the Blue Sharks have since notified the Nigeria Football Federation of their withdrawal.
The NFF is now working to secure a replacement opponent at very short notice, though officials privately acknowledge that the timing makes it difficult. The Super Falcons were already expected to gather in Abuja this weekend in preparation for the double-header. That camp will likely go ahead regardless, giving coach Justine Madugu some training time even if match time cannot be salvaged.
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Another Window, Another Setback
The withdrawal is a familiar frustration for Nigerian women’s football. The Super Falcons have had multiple international windows disrupted by late opponent cancellations over the past year, and players have not been shy about expressing their displeasure publicly. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade and several teammates previously took to social media to call out the federation’s preparation record ahead of tournaments.
The wider context matters here. WAFCON 2026 was originally scheduled to begin in Morocco on March 17 before CAF postponed it to July 25 through August 16, citing unforeseen circumstances. That postponement handed Madugu’s staff extra time to work, but without consistent friendly matches, it’s hard to convert calendar time into meaningful preparation.
Nigeria’s last competitive action in this international window was the double-header against Cameroon in February, where the Falcons lost the first game 1-0 before bouncing back with a 3-1 victory in the second encounter. Those two matches remain the only friendlies the Super Falcons have played in 2026. Super Eagles fans who want to support the national teams throughout the summer can grab the Bet9ja’s current promo code before the busy tournament period begins.
Why Cape Verde Were the Ideal Opponent
Cape Verde were not a random pick. The Blue Sharks are making their maiden appearance at WAFCON 2026, drawn into Group D alongside Cameroon, Ghana and Mali. Playing them would have given Madugu’s squad exposure to a team that is hungry, tactically disciplined and desperate to prove their debut at the continental showpiece is no fluke.
For Cape Verde, the friendlies would have served as high-quality preparation against Africa’s most decorated women’s team. Their withdrawal raises its own questions about the logistical challenges facing smaller African football federations during the expanded build-up period. With Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt and debutants Malawi all in Group C, the Super Falcons face a competitive campaign from day one of the July tournament.
Madugu has made it clear he wants to use every available window to sharpen his squad’s fitness and cohesion. That task just got harder. Anyone still looking to understand the bonus structure at Nigeria’s favourite sportsbook can find all the answers in this guide to the Bet9ja bonus code before the Super Falcons kick off their title defence.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nigeria hold the record for the most Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles in history, with 10 crowns, the most recent coming in July 2025 when they defeated Morocco 3-2 in the Rabat final.
- Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, where the now-cancelled friendlies were scheduled, has a capacity of approximately 10,000 and sits in Ogun State, one of the southwest states with a growing grassroots football culture.
- The 2026 WAFCON is the first edition of the tournament to feature 16 teams, expanding from the 12-team format used in 2024. The extra four spots were added to reflect growing participation in women’s football across Africa.
- Cape Verde qualified for WAFCON 2026 for the first time in their history, a historic achievement for a nation with a population of fewer than 600,000 people.
- All four semi-finalists at WAFCON 2026 will earn automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, raising the stakes significantly for every team at the tournament.
- CAF’s prize fund for WAFCON 2024 hit $1 million for the winners, a record for the competition. Nigeria received the payout after their final victory over Morocco, with the Nigerian government adding $100,000 per player on top of that sum.
- Rasheedat Ajibade, the Super Falcons captain, moved from Atletico Madrid to Paris Saint-Germain after winning WAFCON 2024, becoming one of the highest-profile Nigerian women’s footballers playing in Europe.
