Nigeria's Super Falcons eye historic 11th Wafcon title
The Super Falcons, Nigeria's national women's football team, have won a record-extending 10 out of 13 editions of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) since it began in 1998.
They are now seeking their 11th title, but it won't be easy. "Now that we are champions, every other team will want to draw you down," head coach Justin Madugu told BBC Sport Africa. "It's not going to be easy. We are quite aware of that and we are going to be fully ready."
The team has been preparing for the tournament with multiple friendlies, including a double-header against Cameroon and two warm-up matches against Senegal in June. Madugu has also chosen to weave in a number of young players, including striker Joy Omewa, who plays her club football in Sweden.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, named best player at last year's tournament, will provide experience and leadership alongside Chiamaka Nnadozie, the current African goalkeeper of the year, and six-time African player of the year Asisat Oshoala.
The team faces greater competition this time around, with 16 teams participating in the tournament, up from 12 in previous years. Nigeria will also have to be on their guard against Zambia's experienced strike duo Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, both of whom also play in the USA.
Nigeria will open their campaign against debutants Malawi on Tuesday, before also facing Zambia and Egypt in Group C. "Every country wants to beat Nigeria," said assistant coach Ann Chiejine, a four-time Wafcon winner as a player. "That is why we must up our game by making sure we train harder."
Malawi may be ranked 153rd in the world, compared to Nigeria in 36th, but the Scorchers boast a fearsome attack with proven pedigree in the form of the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa. Nigeria will have to be on their guard against this attack, as they seek to retain their crown.
The Super Falcons have a long history of dominance in African women's football, with only Equatorial Guinea (2008 and 2012) and South Africa (2022) able to break their stranglehold. This time around, they face greater competition, but they remain the benchmark in African women's football.
Nigeria's preparation time has been limited in previous Wafcons, but Madugu and his staff have had the luxury of multiple friendlies to run the rule over the current squad. A blend of youth and experience will be key to their success, as they seek to retain their title.
"We have come of age," said Chiejine when discussing improvements in the African game. "If we are now being beaten by penalty shootout, or 1-0, 2-0, it means that the graph is rising."
The tournament doubles as a qualifying competition for next year's Fifa Women's World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists all guaranteed a place in Brazil. "Our first target is to qualify for the World Cup. After that we can think of defending our title," winger Francisca Ordega told BBC Sport Africa.
Source: Yahoo Sports