The Super Falcons will face Cape Verde in a pair of pre-WAFCON friendlies during the April international break, with the venue and exact dates yet to be confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons are set to face Cape Verde in a series of friendlies this month as coach Justine Madugu intensifies preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, which has been rescheduled to July following its postponement from the original March window. The venue and specific dates for the fixtures are still being finalised.
It is the second straight international break the Falcons have used for competitive prep work. During the last window, they faced the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in two friendlies, building match sharpness ahead of what promises to be a demanding title defence in Morocco. Super Eagles supporters who want to back the Falcons during the tournament can grab the current Bet9ja promotion before the July kick-off.
Why Cape Verde?
Cape Verde are not a random selection. The Blue Sharks will be making their maiden appearance at WAFCON 2026, having qualified for the expanded 16-team edition of the tournament. They are placed in Group D alongside Cameroon, Ghana, and Mali, meaning they will be testing themselves against one of the continent’s powerhouses in Morocco this summer.
For Nigeria, playing Cape Verde provides a look at a team that is hungry, well-organised, and eager to prove their debut at a WAFCON finals is no accident. Madugu’s staff will have studied the Blue Sharks closely, and these friendlies give the Falcons a chance to stress-test their defensive and attacking patterns against an unfamiliar but ambitious opponent.
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Super Falcons at WAFCON 2026: The Task Ahead
Nigeria will defend their WAFCON title from Group C, where they face Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi. All three Group C fixtures will be played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca. Zambia, the Copper Queens, are a known quantity for the Falcons after the two sides clashed in the quarter-final of the 2024 edition, a game Nigeria won 5-0.
The stakes at this tournament stretch beyond continental pride. The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, which adds an entirely new layer of pressure to every knockout tie. Nigeria are chasing a record-extending 11th WAFCON title, and Madugu will be well aware that anything short of the final will be viewed as a disappointment at home.
As reported by FootballInNigeria.com.ng, the postponement of the tournament from March to July has given Madugu additional time to work on his squad depth, and the Cape Verde friendlies fit into a carefully structured preparation calendar.
What This Means for the Falcons Squad
The Cameroon friendlies in March gave younger players a chance to press their case for the final WAFCON squad. Key senior figures, including goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and forward Rasheedat Ajibade, will be expected to lead the charge in Morocco. Ajibade recently completed a move to Paris Saint-Germain after leaving Atletico Madrid, and her club form heading into the summer will be a major factor.
For fans who want to follow every update on the Super Falcons’ journey to WAFCON 2026, FootballInNigeria.com.ng will have full coverage. New Bet9ja users can also check Nigeria’s top Bet9ja code to take advantage of the welcome bonus before the tournament kicks off in July.
📌 Did You Know?
- Nigeria’s Super Falcons have won more Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles than any other country, with their 10th triumph coming in July 2025 when they beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the Rabat final.
- Cape Verde’s qualification for WAFCON 2026 is historic. The Blue Sharks have never before appeared at a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals, making their group stage encounter with Cameroon, Ghana, and Mali a landmark moment for women’s football in the archipelago nation.
- WAFCON 2026 is the first edition of the tournament to feature 16 teams, up from the 12-team format used at the 2024 edition. The expansion was driven by growing participation levels in women’s football across the continent.
- CAF awarded Nigeria’s Super Falcons $1 million in prize money for winning WAFCON 2024, the highest payout in the tournament’s history. The Nigerian government added national honours, housing, and an additional $100,000 per player to the reward package.
- The 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which the top four WAFCON 2026 teams will qualify for automatically, will be hosted by Brazil. It will be the first Women’s World Cup staged in South America.
- Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie joined Brighton and Hove Albion ahead of the 2025/26 season, becoming one of the highest-profile Nigerian women’s players in the Women’s Super League.
- Nigeria’s Group C rivals Malawi will be making their debut at a WAFCON finals in 2026, having come through qualification for the first time. They join Cape Verde as first-time finalists in a tournament that has historically been dominated by a small group of established African nations.
