Nigeria’s preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) have suffered a setback following the cancellation of the Super Falcons’ scheduled friendly against Ghana’s Black Queens.
The match, popularly dubbed the “Jollof Derby”, was due to be played on Saturday at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli in Casablanca, Morocco, but was called off because of unforeseen circumstances.
The Super Falcons announced the cancellation in a statement posted on their official X account on Friday.
The fixture was expected to provide head coach Justine Madugu with an important opportunity to assess his squad ahead of the tournament. It would also have renewed the long-standing rivalry between Nigeria and Ghana, with the Super Falcons having defeated the Black Queens in the final of the inaugural WAFCON in 1998.
Nigeria opened its training camp in Casablanca on Monday, with Madugu overseeing the team’s first training session at the Stade El Arbi Zaouli on Tuesday.
Among the players already in camp were captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeepers Chiamaka Nnadozie and Fatima Oloko, defenders Oluwatosin Demehin, Glory Ogbonna, Christy Ucheibe, Shukurat Oladipo and Rofiat Imuran, midfielder Jennifer Echegini, and forward Asisat Oshoala.
The Super Falcons head into the tournament as defending champions and Africa’s most successful women’s national team, having won a record 10 WAFCON titles, including the 2025 edition. They have been drawn in Group C alongside Malawi, Zambia and Egypt, with all their group matches scheduled to be played in Rabat.
Nigeria will begin its campaign against Malawi on 28 July before taking on Zambia and Egypt in its remaining group-stage fixtures.
Ahead of the tournament, Malawi captain Tabitha Chawinga drew attention on social media after a light-hearted exchange with Oshoala during a pre-tournament panel featuring leading African players, including Ghana’s Cynthia Konlan and Egypt’s Nadine Ghazi.
After Oshoala jokingly teased Tabitha and her sister, Temwa Chawinga, about Nigeria’s dominance in African women’s football, the Malawi captain replied with a playful request for mercy.
“Super Falcons need to calm down. Do not give us 5-0, please. One-nil is enough,” Chawinga said.
The exchange has been widely shared online, with fans praising the friendly rivalry between the players ahead of the tournament.
The 2026 WAFCON will be held from 19 July to 8 August. The four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, while the fifth-placed team will progress to an intercontinental play-off for another place at the tournament.
