Rasheedat Ajibade, captain of the Super Falcons of Nigeria has publicly criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over what she terms inadequate preparation for the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The tournament, originally scheduled to take place in March, has been postponed and will now run from July 26 to August 16 in Morocco. Despite Nigeria’s status as the defending champions, the team has encountered difficulties in securing international friendlies in the lead-up to the competition.
Plans for two warm-up matches against Cape Verde, slated for April 15 and 18, have also been cancelled.
The Super Falcons are expected to open camp in Abuja this weekend. However, Ajibade has expressed growing frustration over the lack of structured preparation, emphasising that the stakes extend far beyond AFCON glory.
In a strongly worded post on her official Instagram page, the Paris Saint-Germain forward highlighted that Nigeria’s performance at WAFCON will directly determine their qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Only the semifinalists from this year’s WAFCON will secure a spot at the global tournament.
“We are not just preparing for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations; we are also fighting for World Cup qualification,” Ajibade wrote. “Our performance at WAFCON will determine whether we qualify for the World Cup, so why are we not preparing with the seriousness and intensity this demands?”
She continued, her frustration evident: “This is not something to take lightly, for God’s sake! I can’t cry. What is all this and for how long?”
The outburst from the team captain affirms growing unease within the squad as the revised tournament dates approach.