Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has declared that Nigeria’s only objective is victory when the defending champions begin their campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against tournament debutants Malawi on Tuesday night.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference in Rabat, the Atletico Madrid forward said the squad is fully prepared for the Group C opener and determined to lay down an early marker in their pursuit of a record-extending 11th continental title.
“The team’s spirit is high. Everyone is fully focused. We know why we’re here and we are ready to take things one step at a time. So we’re 100 per cent ready,” Ajibade said.
Nigeria will face Malawi at Stade El Barid before taking on Zambia and Egypt in Group C. Although the nine-time African champions enter the fixture as favourites, Ajibade insisted the team would not underestimate any opponent.
“We’re approaching every team with a sense of humility and respect. Seeing Malawi qualify for WAFCON for the first time shows the progress they are making and the intentional investment in women’s football. Some of their players are competing in the top five leagues, which shows the future of women’s football in Africa is very bright.”
Ajibade stressed that tournament football is ultimately judged by results rather than performances, saying securing all three points remains Nigeria’s primary objective.
“A good performance for the Super Falcons is to win three points because that’s what matters in this tournament.”
The Falcons skipper also urged Nigerians to continue supporting the team throughout the competition, promising that the players would do everything possible to make the country proud.
Beyond the tournament, she called on stakeholders to create a safer and more supportive environment for female footballers, saying infrastructure alone is not enough to guarantee the long-term growth of the women’s game.
Nigeria head into the competition after defeating Tanzania 2-1 in their final warm-up match, while Malawi will be making their historic WAFCON debut.
The Super Falcons remain Africa’s most successful women’s national team and will be hoping to launch another title-winning campaign with a commanding performance against the Scorchers.
