Nigeria have been dealt a major setback ahead of their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying clash with Benin Republic, as midfielder Jennifer Echegini has been ruled out through injury.
Echegini, who scored the winning goal in Nigeria’s Women’s AFCON final victory over Morocco earlier this year, sustained a hamstring injury during Paris Saint-Germain’s 1–0 league win over RC Strasbourg Alsace on Monday night.
The 24-year-old played the full 90 minutes before reporting discomfort after the match, and scans later confirmed she would not be fit in time for the two-legged qualifier.
The Super Falcons camp in Lomé swelled on Tuesday as preparations continued for Friday’s first leg at the Stade de Kégué.
Despite Echegini’s absence, team captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who also plies her trade with PSG, arrived late on Tuesday night alongside the Mexico-based duo of defender Osinachi Ohale and striker Chinwendu Ihezuo.
USA-based stars Michelle Alozie and Deborah Abiodun, Canada-based forward Esther Okoronkwo, and Italy-based defender Shukurat Oladipo also joined the squad.
The arrivals of Portugal-based midfielder Christy Ucheibe and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie on Monday night had earlier increased the number of players in camp to 11, while Saudi Arabia-based defender Ashley Plumptre linked up with the team on Tuesday afternoon.
Nigeria, 10-time African champions, will face Benin at the 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué in Lomé on Friday, with kick-off scheduled for 4pm Nigerian time.
The reverse fixture is set for Tuesday, 28 October, at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta.
The tie will determine which team secures a place at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, a tournament that also serves as Africa’s qualifying event for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
CAF has appointed Gambian referee Ngum Fatou to officiate the first leg, assisted by Mauritanians Mariem Chedad and Hamedine Houleye. Gambian Isatou Touray will act as fourth official, while Niger’s Halimatou Hamidou and Malawi’s Martha Nyekanyeka will serve as match commissioner and referee assessor respectively.
