Head coach Justine Madugu wants the Super Falcons to punch their ticket to Brazil 2027 first before turning attention to a record 11th continental crown.
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Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has laid out a clear order of priorities for Nigeria’s WAFCON 2026 campaign in Morocco, with World Cup qualification coming before the pursuit of another continental crown.
Nigeria arrive in North Africa as defending champions after a dramatic comeback win over hosts Morocco in the last final, a result that stretched their record to a 10th WAFCON title. This time the tournament carries extra weight, since it also serves as Africa’s qualifying series for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Madugu told CAFonline that securing a World Cup slot sits at the top of his list before the team even thinks about defending the trophy.
“Our priority will first be to ensure that we make it to the World Cup,” he said, adding that lifting an 11th continental title and taking it back to Nigeria remains the second objective.
The coach acknowledged the target on his players’ backs as reigning champions, noting that every rival on the continent will be gunning for the Super Falcons this time around. He said the squad is holding onto something precious that other nations want to take from them, but insisted the group remains focused on both targets rather than getting distracted by the pressure.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group C alongside Tunisia, Algeria and Botswana, and will open their title defence against Tunisia before facing Botswana and Algeria in the group phase.
Madugu Welcomes Expanded 16-Team Format
WAFCON 2026 will be the first edition to feature 16 teams, up from the 12-team format used previously, and Madugu views the expansion as a positive step for the women’s game across the continent.
He believes the bigger field gives more federations a platform to test their progress against Africa’s best sides, while also creating more visibility for players hoping to earn moves abroad and encouraging greater investment in women’s football at home.
Nigeria remain the standard bearers of the women’s game in Africa, having won more WAFCON titles than every other nation combined and never lost a final they have reached. The Super Falcons open camp preparations in the coming weeks as they build toward the July kickoff in Morocco.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nigeria are the only side to have won every WAFCON final they have ever reached, a perfect 10 from 10.
- The Super Falcons won five straight WAFCON titles between 2000 and 2006, the tournament’s longest title streak.
- Former striker Perpetua Nkwocha remains the competition’s all-time top scorer with 24 goals across her career.
- Nigeria and South Africa are the only two countries to have qualified for every WAFCON edition since 1998.
- The last final saw Nigeria overturn a two-goal halftime deficit against hosts Morocco to win 3-2.
- WAFCON 2026 will run from 25 July to 16 August, still hosted in Morocco.
- Madugu has continued to lead the Super Falcons on an interim basis without a substantive contract since replacing Randy Waldrum.
