Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu left Africa’s most decorated women’s footballer out of his Cameroon friendly squad, insisting it’s purely tactical. Not everyone is convinced.
Oshoala Left Out, Madugu Says Don’t Panic
When Super Falcons coach Justin Madugu released his 25-player squad for Nigeria’s double-header friendly against Cameroon in Yaoundé, one name stood out by its absence: Asisat Oshoala. Africa’s most celebrated female footballer, a six-time African Women’s Player of the Year and a forward currently playing for Saudi club Al-Hilal, didn’t make the cut for matches scheduled for February 28 and March 3.
Madugu moved quickly to douse the inevitable speculation. “It is a friendly match, and it is important we give others the chance to show what they can do,” he told Complete Sports. “We all know what Asisat brings to the team, but these games allow us to explore new options. She remains very much part of our plans.”
That explanation will satisfy some. Others won’t be so easily reassured. And with WAFCON 2026 in Morocco kicking off on March 17, the timing couldn’t be more sensitive.
Who Got In While Oshoala Sat Out
The squad Madugu assembled has some genuinely interesting names. Gift Monday earned her recall after a long absence from the national team. Her last appearance was in October 2024, when Nigeria played Algeria in a two-legged friendly. She was famously left out of the 2024 WAFCON squad despite strong club form, and she’s clearly not wasting her second chance. Washington Spirit striker Monday has been one of the standout performers in the NWSL this season.
Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene is also back after giving birth to her first child. The Canada-based midfielder returned to football with Ottawa Rapid FC, and her recall is a feel-good story. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, and forwards Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo kept their spots.
There were two first-time call-ups, too. England-based goalkeeper Comfort Erhabor and Tanzania-based midfielder Precious Christopher got their maiden invitations. Chidinma Okeke, who recently returned from a long injury layoff, was also included.
The full squad also includes:
- Defenders: Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie, Oluwatosin Demehin, Ashley Plumptre
- Midfielders: Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe, Deborah Abiodun, Jennifer Echegini
- Forwards: Rinsola Babajide, Folashade Ijamilusi
Should Falcons Fans Be Worried?
Let’s be honest: Oshoala’s omission from a pre-tournament friendly is not a death sentence. Coaches drop established stars from preparation games all the time, particularly when they want to see what depth options look like under pressure. Madugu has a point when he says this is an opportunity to test the squad.
But context matters here. Oshoala was included in Nigeria’s WAFCON qualifiers against Benin, so her absence from these Cameroon friendlies isn’t simply part of a long-term exclusion. It’s a fresh development, and it’s happening just three weeks before the tournament begins.
The question supporters are already asking is a fair one: if Madugu has doubts about Oshoala’s fitness, form, or fit within his system, wouldn’t these pre-tournament games be the exact moments to examine those concerns?
“We all know what Asisat brings to the team, but these games allow us to explore new options. She remains very much part of our plans.”
— Coach Justin Madugu
A Pattern Worth Noting
Oshoala isn’t the first high-profile Falcon to find herself on the outside without a clear explanation. Gift Monday spent over a year out of the squad despite consistently good club performances. Okobi-Okeoghene was famously absent from the 2023 Women’s World Cup squad under former coach Randy Waldrum. Nigerian women’s football has a complicated history with selection decisions that don’t always follow the form guide.
That’s why the Oshoala situation feels slightly uneasy. At 31, she’s still performing at a high level in Saudi Arabia. She’s not in obvious physical decline. There’s no public injury concern. And she featured in the qualifiers. So what changed?
Madugu’s answer, essentially, is that nothing changed and that she’s still in his plans. Supporters will hope the WAFCON squad confirms that when it’s announced.
📊 FIN Editorial: Tactical Rotation or Quiet Messaging?
The case for calm: Madugu has been clear that Oshoala remains part of his plans, and resting key players ahead of a major tournament is standard practice across elite international football. Nigeria has strong forward options, and using these friendlies to test depth is smart management.
The case for concern: With WAFCON 2026 starting on March 17, there’s no time for slow integration. If Oshoala isn’t playing in the pre-tournament games, she goes into Africa’s biggest women’s football competition without international match sharpness. That’s a risk. Nigeria are ten-time champions and title favourites. This is not the moment for unnecessary gambles with squad harmony.
The verdict: Madugu deserves the benefit of the doubt for now, but the WAFCON squad announcement will tell the full story. If Oshoala’s name isn’t on that list, the “it’s just tactical” explanation won’t hold up.
What’s at Stake: WAFCON 2026 and the World Cup Ticket
The 13th edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations runs from March 17 to April 3 in Morocco. Nigeria heads into the tournament as defending champions, having secured their 16th consecutive appearance after a composed two-legged win over the Benin Republic. They won the first leg 2-0 in Cotonou, then drew 1-1 in Abeokuta to confirm qualification comfortably.
The stakes at WAFCON 2026 are massive beyond just the continental title. All four semi-finalists automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. That alone makes the Falcons’ squad choices critically important. Every player’s decision carries World Cup implications.
Nigeria is among the favourites, but the competition has grown sharper. Morocco, South Africa, and Zambia have all raised their levels significantly in recent years. The Falcons need their best players available and in rhythm. That’s why the Oshoala question matters so much right now.
The Bigger Picture for Nigerian Women’s Football
Whoever makes Madugu’s final WAFCON squad, this moment reflects something broader. Nigeria’s women’s football is at a crossroads between the established generation that won titles and the next wave of players who need tournament experience to develop. Gift Monday’s recall and the debut call-ups for Erhabor and Christopher suggest Madugu is serious about building beyond the known names.
That’s the right instinct for long-term development. But in March 2026, with a title to defend and a World Cup place on the line, the balance has to lean toward proven quality. Oshoala, if fit, is a proven quality. The Cameroon friendlies will give Madugu’s new faces a chance to make their case. Whether that changes the hierarchy at the top of the squad, only the WAFCON squad announcement will confirm.
📌 Did You Know?
- Asisat Oshoala has won the African Women’s Player of the Year award six times, more than any other player in history, male or female.
- Nigeria’s Super Falcons have qualified for 16 consecutive WAFCON tournaments, a record unmatched by any other nation in African women’s football.
- Gift Monday’s last Super Falcons appearance before this recall was in October 2024, when Nigeria played Algeria in a friendly in Lagos. She was controversially left out of the 2024 WAFCON squad.
- The 2026 WAFCON in Morocco is particularly significant because all four semi-finalists qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
- Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene was previously excluded from the 2023 Women’s World Cup squad under former coach Randy Waldrum, making her return to the Falcons after maternity leave a remarkable story.
- Oshoala featured for Nigeria during the WAFCON 2026 qualifiers against Benin, making her omission from these Cameroon friendlies a fresh development rather than a prolonged exclusion.
- Comfort Erhabor and Precious Christopher both received maiden Super Falcons call-ups in this squad, continuing Madugu’s policy of broadening the national team’s talent pool ahead of the tournament.
