Barely a year after clinching a record-extending 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title, the Super Falcons are set to return to Morocco next month to defend their crown. Ahead of the tournament, ABIODUN ADEWALE reviews the recent form of some key players.

Super Falcons star Ajibade returned to first-team action three weeks ago after being sidelined with an injury since November.

Since joining her club in the summer, she has made nine league appearances, providing one assist, though she is yet to open her goal-scoring account. Despite this, her impact on the pitch remains significant. Ajibade recently led fellow Super Falcons players in the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) Women’s Africa XI. The 2025 Women’s CAF Team of the Year features Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, defenders Michelle Alozie and Ashleigh Plumptre, and midfielder Christy Ucheibe.

In Saudi Arabia, Oshoala continues to make headlines. Last Thursday, she scored a first-half brace in Al Hilal Ladies’ 3-3 draw with Al Ahli, underlining her ongoing influence in Saudi women’s football, where she has quickly become one of the league’s most dangerous attackers.

Back in England, Super Falcons goalkeeper Nnadozie made four saves from seven shots faced on Sunday, though it was not enough to prevent Brighton from losing 3-2 to West Ham United in the Women’s Super League. The defeat marked Brighton Women’s second consecutive league loss, leaving them with just one win in their last five matches. Nnadozie has kept four clean sheets in 13 games since joining Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer.

Like Ajibade, Nnadozie was also named in the IFFHS CAF Women’s XI, reflecting her status as one of Africa’s top goalkeepers. Her performances for Nigeria, former club Paris FC, and current side Brighton have showcased her shot-stopping ability and leadership on the field. Defenders Michelle Alozie and Ashleigh Plumptre also earned places in the IFFHS Africa XI defence.

Alozie, who recently moved from Houston Dash to Chicago Stars FC, is still preparing for the new season in the United States, as is 2024 WAFCON star Esther Okoronkwo, currently based in Canada.

Falcons’ Build-Up Tournament

The Super Falcons will begin preparations for the 2026 WAFCON by participating in a four-nation West African tournament in Abidjan later this month. The invitational competition, organised by the West African Football Union (WAFU) B, will run from February 27 to March 7, 2026, in Ivory Coast.

The tournament will feature four teams that have all qualified for WAFCON 2026, including hosts Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal. It is expected to serve as a final competitive test ahead of the main event, concluding just 10 days before the start of the WAFCON finals in Morocco.

While there are some uncertainties surrounding the build-up tournament — following reports that the hosts requested a postponement — the 2026 WAFCON is scheduled from March 17 to April 3, 2026. Defending champions Nigeria have been drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and debutants Malawi.