With just seven weeks to go before WAFCON 2026 kicks off in Morocco, Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu has picked his squad for two home friendlies against Senegal, bringing back familiar faces while notable regulars remain on the sidelines.
Super Falcons coach Justine Madugu has named a 23-player squad for Nigeria’s pre-WAFCON double-header against Senegal, set for June 5 and June 8 at the Remo Stars Sports Complex in Ikenne-Remo. The games represent the defending champions’ final competitive preparation before they travel to Morocco to defend their continental crown, making the selection and the performances in these two fixtures particularly important.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade leads the list, joined by goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, veteran forward Asisat Oshoala, and a blend of experienced overseas-based players and home based talent. The recall of midfielder Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene and forwards Francisca Ordega and Gift Monday adds depth, while Kafayat Shittu and Blessing Nkor come in for a first look under the current setup.
Fans who want to follow every moment of the Super Falcons’ WAFCON title defence can check FootballInNigeria.com.ng for live updates, squad news, and match analysis throughout the tournament.
A Squad Built on Experience, With Questions About Absentees
The most discussed aspect of the squad is not who is in it but who is out. Michelle Alozie, Ashleigh Plumptre, Osinachi Ohale, Deborah Abiodun, Esther Okoronkwo, and Jennifer Echegini are all missing from the list. Several of these players have been dealing with injury concerns that date back to the WAFCON qualifying campaign, and their fitness ahead of the tournament in Morocco remains a live concern for the technical crew.
WAFCON 2026, originally scheduled to begin in Morocco on March 17, was postponed by CAF and has been rescheduled to run from July 25 to August 16. That delay has actually given Nigeria more time to get players fit, but it has also compressed the preparation window into an awkward corner of the calendar when most European leagues are already on break and players’ match sharpness is at its lowest. Nigeria’s last organised friendly outings before this call up were two matches against Cameroon in Yaounde in March, where they lost the first game 1-0 before bouncing back to win the second 3-1.
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WAFCON Stakes Have Never Been Higher
There is more riding on WAFCON 2026 than just continental pride. For the first time, the tournament also serves as African qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with all four semi finalists earning automatic spots. That means Nigeria’s group stage campaign against Malawi, Zambia, and Egypt in Casablanca is not just about defending a title but about securing a World Cup berth.
Nigeria will begin their campaign against Malawi before facing Zambia, a side they demolished 5-0 in last year’s quarter finals on the way to that memorable final victory over Morocco. Egypt, returning to the tournament after a 10 year absence, complete Group C. All three of Nigeria’s group games will be played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
The Super Falcons are chasing an 11th WAFCON title and have reached at least the semi finals in every edition of the tournament since 1991. That run of consistency is one of the most remarkable in African football, men’s or women’s, and these Senegal friendlies are a chance to sharpen the tools needed to keep it going. For those who want to stay up to date on all the tournament predictions and Super Falcons news, the YOHAIG promo code page has the latest Bet9ja offers ahead of kick-off.
The Full Squad
Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Comfort Erhabor (Portsmouth Ladies, England); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels)
Defenders: Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Rofiat Imuran (London City Lionesses, England); Glory Ogbonna (FC Kiryat Gat, Israel); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Sikiratu Isah (Bnot Netanya, Israel); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)
Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint-Germain, France); Halimatu Ayinde (BK Hacken, Sweden); Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene (Ottawa Rapids, Canada); Toni Payne (Everton Ladies, England); Jennifer Echegini (Paris Saint-Germain, France); Kafayat Shittu (Giressunsanayispor, Turkey)
Forwards: Asisat Oshoala (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia); Gift Monday (Washington Spirit, USA); Joy Omewa (Nottingham Forest, England); Francisca Ordega (Ittihad Ladies, Saudi Arabia); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Omorinsola Babajide (AS Roma, Italy); Blessing Nkor (Dynamo Brest, Belarus)
Games to Watch Before WAFCON
The match against Senegal is a good test on paper. Senegal reached the WAFCON 2026 group stage as part of Morocco’s Group A, meaning the two sides will be at the same tournament. Playing them twice in June gives Madugu’s team a chance to scout a potential future opponent while also shaking off any rustiness ahead of the real business.
With a training camp cancelled earlier in May after Jamaica pulled out of a proposed UK friendly programme, these two games against Senegal have taken on additional weight. They are no longer just warm up exercises but the defining last look at where this squad is before the tournament squad for Morocco is finalised. Bet9ja’s sign-up bonus is available for new users who want to stake on the Super Falcons’ WAFCON opener against Malawi on July 25.
📌 Did You Know?
- WAFCON 2026 was originally scheduled to begin on March 17 in Morocco but was postponed by CAF following a request from the Royal Moroccan Football Federation citing fixture congestion. It was rescheduled to run from July 25 to August 16.
- Nigeria’s Super Falcons have reached at least the semi-finals of every WAFCON edition since 1991, a run of consistency that stretches across more than three decades and 14 tournaments.
- The 2026 WAFCON doubles as Africa’s qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with all four semi finalists earning automatic spots in the global event.
- Deborah Abiodun and Esther Okoronkwo both picked up injuries during Nigeria’s WAFCON qualifying second leg against Benin Republic in Abeokuta in October 2025 and were substituted during the match.
- Nigeria defeated Morocco 3-2 in the WAFCON 2025 final in Rabat, completing a dramatic comeback after trailing the hosts to claim a record 10th continental title.
- This is the first WAFCON to feature 16 teams, expanded from 12 after CAF announced the change midway through the qualification process in late 2025.
- Francisca Ordega, recalled in this squad, is one of Nigeria’s most experienced wingers with over 70 international caps and has featured at multiple WAFCON and World Cup tournaments across a career spanning more than a decade.
