As the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) looms, the Super Falcons of Nigeria are facing a turbulent preparation period, sparking significant concerns among players and fans alike. While other West African Football Union (WAFU) Zone B nations are actively engaging in high-quality friendly matches, Nigeria's star-studded team has been hampered by a series of disrupted arrangements and a perceived lack of structured planning. The WAFCON 2026 tournament is scheduled to take place in Morocco from July 25 to August 16,.

Reports indicate widespread frustration within the Super Falcons' camp, with key players like captain Rasheedat Ajibade and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie voicing their disappointment. Ajibade has openly questioned the team's level of preparation, highlighting cancelled fixtures, uncertainty surrounding training camps, and limited international exposure as major setbacks. "We are not just preparing for the Women's African Cup of Nations, we are also fighting for World Cup qualification. So, why are we not preparing with the seriousness and intensity this demands?" Ajibade lamented, emphasizing the dual importance of WAFCON as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup..

The Super Falcons have reportedly struggled to secure friendly matches during recent FIFA international windows. Planned encounters against Togo and Cape Verde have fallen through, leaving the team with minimal competitive game time. This contrasts sharply with regional rivals such as Benin, Burkina Faso, and Côte d'Ivoire, who have been actively participating in mini-tournaments and multi-legged friendlies. Benin's Amazons are currently in Tunis for a mini-tournament, Burkina Faso is engaged in a series against Senegal, and Côte d'Ivoire continues with its friendly schedule..

This lack of consistent match practice is particularly worrying given the Super Falcons' status as 10-time African champions. Their last competitive fixture was a qualifying match against Benin in October 2025, and since then, their opportunities to gel and refine tactics have been severely limited. While the team did play two friendly matches against Cameroon in March 2026, losing the first 1-0 and winning the second 3-1, these isolated games are not seen as sufficient preparation..

Further exacerbating the concerns is the backdrop of WAFCON 2026's own scheduling upheaval. The tournament was initially slated for March 2026 but was postponed by CAF to July 25 – August 16 due to "unforeseen circumstances.". This rescheduling, coupled with the internal preparation challenges, has created an atmosphere of uncertainty for the Super Falcons.

With rivals like South Africa and Zambia reportedly improving rapidly, and Morocco aiming to leverage home advantage as a back-to-back finalist, fears are mounting that the Super Falcons may arrive in Morocco short of match sharpness and cohesion. The team's history of success often masks persistent issues with preparation, and the current situation raises questions about the Nigeria Football Federation's (NFF) planning and support for the women's game. The NFF is reportedly seeking alternative opponents to salvage the team's pre-tournament build-up, but the window for effective preparation is rapidly closing..