WAFCON 2026: Award winner reacts after making Super Falcons squad for first major tournament

Fatima Oloko has shared her excitement after earning her first-ever place in Nigeria Super Falcons' squad for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), soccernet.ng/wp/wp/ reports.

The Abia Angels goalkeeper described the achievement as the beginning of many more milestones.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu included the 18-year-old goalkeeper in his final 25-player squad for the tournament, which will take place in Morocco from 25 July to 16 August.

Oloko is the only player from the Nigeria Women's Football League (NWFL) to make the final list. While most of the squad is made up of players based in Europe and other foreign leagues, the teen shot-stopper has earned her place through outstanding performances in Nigeria's domestic competition.

Reacting to the announcement, the teenager took to her Threads account to celebrate the special moment.

“Thank you Lord Jesus my first of many to come,” she wrote.

Her selection is also a major boost for Nigerian women's domestic football, showing that outstanding performances in the NWFL can still earn players a place in the national team despite strong competition from overseas-based stars.

WAFCON: Oloko in Super Falcons dreamland

Oloko's rise has been remarkable over the past season. Playing for Abia Angels, she fought hard to become the club's first-choice goalkeeper before producing a series of match-winning saves and clean sheets that helped the team qualify for the NWFL Super Six for the first time in the club's history.

Her impressive performances throughout the 2025-2026 campaign earned her the NWFL Goalkeeper of the Season award, even though Edo Queens eventually lifted the league title.

She will now join one of Africa's strongest goalkeeping units at WAFCON alongside Brighton & Hove Albion goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and Portsmouth Ladies shot-stopper Comfort Erhabor. Nnadozie, three-time Africa Women's Goalkeeper of the Year, will be the undisputed first choice at the tournament.

Nigeria head into the WAFCON as defending champions and will be chasing a record-extending 11th continental title. The Super Falcons have been drawn in Group C with Zambia, Egypt and Malawi, with qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil also at stake.