Nigeria’s Super Falcons will begin their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on February 20, Soccernet.ng reports.
The reigning African champions will open a training camp in Abuja as attention gradually turns to another continental title challenge.
Head coach Justine Madugu will put his squad together in the nation’s capital before the team travels to Abidjan for the WAFU B invitational tournament later in the month.
The competition, scheduled to run from February 27 to March 7, will also feature Cote d'Ivoire, Ghana and Senegal and is expected to provide the Falcons with valuable match fitness ahead of the WAFCON finals.
The Super Falcons will return to Morocco aiming to defend the crown they won in dramatic fashion at the last edition, when they beat the host nation 3–2 in Rabat to secure a record 10th title. That campaign included a commanding 5-0 quarter-final victory over Zambia, a familiar opponent who will once again face Nigeria in the group stage.
Drawn in Group C, the Falcons will compete against Zambia, Egypt and Malawi, with matches scheduled to take place in Casablanca.
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WAFCON 2026: Morocco asks CAF to review tournament dates
While preparations across Africa gather pace, uncertainty has emerged around the tournament schedule after Morocco formally asked the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to consider postponing the competition.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation cited heavy pressure on the country’s football calendar, pointing to fixture disruptions in the Botola Pro League caused by overlapping events including the African Nations Championship, the Arab Cup and the men’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Officials say the congestion has created logistical challenges that could affect the smooth hosting of WAFCON, prompting the request for a revised timeline.
CAF has yet to confirm whether the tournament will be moved, but discussions with Moroccan authorities are ongoing.
The 2026 WAFCON is set to run from March 17 to April 3 across four host cities, including Rabat, Casablanca and Fes. Four semi-finalists at the WAFCON will earn automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Teams knocked out in the quarter-finals will still have a chance to reach the global finals through inter-confederation play-offs.
A final decision on the schedule is expected in the coming weeks, as Nigeria and the rest of Africa continue preparations for one of the most significant women’s tournaments on the continent.
