Nigeria’s Super Falcons will ramp up their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) by participating in a competitive four-nation West African invitational tournament scheduled to take place in Abidjan later this month.
The nine-time African champions have confirmed their involvement in the competition organised by the West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B. The tournament will be hosted by Ivory Coast and will run from February 27 to March 7, 2026.
Nigeria will be joined by familiar rivals Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Senegal, with all four nations already qualified for WAFCON 2026. The mini-tournament is therefore expected to serve as a vital dress rehearsal ahead of the continental showpiece.
The timing of the event is considered ideal, as it concludes just ten days before the kickoff of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, which will be held from March 17 to April 3, 2026.
Head coach Justine Madugu is believed to have submitted a provisional squad list for the Abidjan trip, with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) expected to officially unveil the team in the coming days.
At WAFCON 2026, the Super Falcons will compete in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and debutants Malawi.
The clash with Zambia is anticipated to attract significant attention, rekindling a growing rivalry following Nigeria’s emphatic 5–0 victory over the Copper Queens at the previous edition, which ended with a dramatic final triumph over hosts Morocco.
Egypt return to the tournament after the competition was expanded to include 16 teams, while Malawi will be making their maiden appearance at the WAFCON finals.
The 2026 championship will be staged across four venues in Rabat, Casablanca, and Fez. Beyond continental honours, the stakes are particularly high, as the four semi-finalists will automatically secure qualification for the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria will enter the competition as the most successful nation in the tournament’s history, having lifted the trophy a record ten times, and will be determined to further cement their dominance when action begins in Morocco.
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