Nigeria’s women’s squad has grown to 15 players in Cameroon as coach Justine Madugu steps up preparations for two friendlies against the Indomitable Lionesses on February 28 and March 3.
Two Games, One Goal
The friendlies against Cameroon serve a specific purpose. With WAFCON 2026 in Morocco approaching fast, coach Justine Madugu and her technical staff need match time to assess combinations, test squad depth, and give fringe players a chance to stake their claim for a spot in the final tournament squad.
Nigeria won the WAFCON title for a record-extending tenth time in July 2025, beating hosts Morocco 3-2 in a memorable final. Defending that crown means arriving at the tournament sharp, cohesive, and with clarity on roles. These two games in Yaoundé are part of that process.
AS Roma’s Rinsola Babajide is one of the more eye-catching names in camp. The winger has been in fine form at club level, and her inclusion signals that Madugu is looking to blend established internationals with players pushing hard for more minutes in the green and white.
Cameroon Enters With No Head Coach
While Nigeria’s preparations are structured and building momentum, their opponents are carrying significant off-pitch baggage into these fixtures. The Indomitable Lionesses have been without a permanent head coach since October 29, 2025, when Jean-Baptiste Bisseck was dismissed after Cameroon failed to qualify for WAFCON 2026 through the standard qualification route.
Cameroon’s path to the tournament itself came through a different door. The Confederation of African Football expanded WAFCON 2026 from 12 to 16 teams, and Cameroon was among the sides reinstated. They’re in the competition, but with no coach confirmed and an administration still navigating the fallout from a failed qualification campaign, the road ahead is far from smooth.
Three-time WAFCON runners-up and still hunting their first continental title, Cameroon know what’s at stake. Facing the reigning champions twice in a week, however, without a settled technical setup, is a serious test of character for the Lionesses squad.
📝 Editorial View
These friendlies matter more for Nigeria than the scorelines suggest. Madugu isn’t just picking her best eleven and running through the motions. She’s watching closely: who handles the travel disruption, who arrives in shape, who steps up when the intensity rises. The squad is still forming, and decisions made in Yaoundé this week and next will shape who boards the plane to Morocco.
The contrast with Cameroon’s situation is stark. Nigeria has a stable technical setup, experienced players across European leagues, and the confidence of a team that just won its tenth continental title. Cameroon has a heart and home advantage, but no coach and months of administrative uncertainty behind them. Nigeria should win both matches. The question is what the coaching staff learns in the process.
The Bigger Picture: Defending Champions Under the Spotlight
There’s a particular weight that comes with being the team everyone is chasing. Nigeria won’t just be judged by whether they beat Cameroon in these friendlies. Every squad selection, every training session, every result between now and the WAFCON tournament opener will be scrutinised by fans, analysts, and rival nations watching carefully.
What the Falcons have going for them is depth. The current squad features players from AS Roma, PSG, and clubs across Europe’s top women’s leagues. Ajibade, who helped PSG reach the Coupe de France final recently, brings Champions League-level experience to the group. The blend of seasoned internationals and emerging talents gives Madugu real options across every position.
Nigeria’s WAFCON Group C placement as defending champions puts them on a collision course with some of the continent’s strongest sides. Getting tournament-ready starts right here, in Yaoundé, in two friendlies that will give the technical team exactly what they need before the real thing begins.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nigeria’s Super Falcons have won the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations a record 10 times, more than any other nation in the competition’s history.
- Rinsola Babajide and Shukurat Oladipo, both on the books at AS Roma, were among the four players who arrived in camp on February 25 to bring the squad number to 15.
- Cameroon’s head coach, Jean-Baptiste Bisseck, was dismissed on October 29, 2025, after the Indomitable Lionesses failed to qualify for WAFCON 2026, and no permanent replacement has been named since.
- Cameroon was initially eliminated from WAFCON 2026 qualification but was reinstated after CAF expanded the tournament field from 12 to 16 nations.
- Cameroon has finished as WAFCON runners-up three times without ever winning the title, making them one of the continent’s most persistent bridesmaids in women’s football.
- The Super Falcons’ first training session in Yaoundé took place at the Stade Omnisport Ahmadou Ahidjo on February 25, 2026, kicking off at 6:00 pm local time.
- Nigeria beat Morocco 3-2 in the WAFCON 2025 final, claiming their tenth title on Moroccan soil, which is the same country that will host the 2026 edition they are now preparing to defend.
