WAFCON
CAF hails Super Falcons’ skipper, Rasheedat Ajibade
On its website, the Confederation of African Football, CAF, has eulogised the rising profile of the Super Falcons captain, Rasheedat Ajibade.
At just 25, Ajibade has firmly etched her name into the folklore of Nigerian women’s football.
From a teenage debutant at the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) to captain of the Super Falcons at the ongoing 2024 edition in Morocco, Ajibade’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable.
On Thursday night at Casablanca’s Larbi Zaouli Stadium, the Atlético Madrid forward once again underlined her status as Nigeria’s new football compass.
Though she didn’t score in the 1–0 victory over Botswana, her commanding presence across all areas of the pitch earned her the Woman of the Match award.
With sharp decision-making, composure in tense moments, and relentless energy, Ajibade proved yet again that she is more than a winger—she is the heart and soul of a Nigerian team chasing its 10th continental crown.
Her rise to leadership began quietly in 2018. Barely 19 and fresh-faced with a shaved head and steely determination, Ajibade stepped onto the WAFCON stage in Ghana.
She watched and learned from seasoned greats like Rita Chikwelu, Desire Oparanozie, and Ngozi Ebere.
When the opportunity came in the semi-final against Cameroon, she stepped up, coolly converting her penalty in the shootout before lifting her first WAFCON trophy days before her 19th birthday.
From Lagos to Europe, her growth has mirrored that of a true professional. After a stint in Norway with Avaldsnes IL, she joined Atlético Madrid in Spain, where her game matured.
“In Madrid, I learned to play more accurately. Run less for the sake of running. See before I receive,” she told the BBC.
With her now-iconic electric blue hair, Ajibade has transformed from a fleet-footed attacker to a composed and tactical playmaker.
She made her mark again at the 2022 WAFCON—also in Morocco—where she finished as joint top scorer with three goals and was named in the tournament’s Best XI.
Her decisive goal against Cameroon in the quarter-finals sealed Nigeria’s place in the semi-finals.
But heartbreak followed as she missed the semi-final through suspension and watched the Super Falcons stumble to fourth place after back-to-back defeats.
That campaign left a bitter taste, but it also marked a turning point. Since 2023, Ajibade has worn the captain’s armband—more by merit than formality.
On and off the pitch, she leads with calm authority and quiet strength. Her leadership was on full display against Botswana: 81 touches, eight duels won, five key passes, and three shots on target.
But her impact goes beyond the numbers. Ajibade orchestrates play, drops deep to support the defence, initiates attacks, and offers stability during difficult spells.
She’s become the kind of player who doesn’t just feature in games—she defines them.
Over six years, Ajibade has evolved from a promising youngster into the dependable face of a new-look Super Falcons—less flashy perhaps, but more disciplined, patient, and tactically sound.
As Nigeria eyes a return to continental glory, it is their captain—cool-headed and battle-tested—who is leading the charge.
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African women’s national teams are stepping up preparations for the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026, with a packed April FIFA international window offering a crucial opportunity to assess strengths and refine tactics.
With the continental tournament just months away, teams across Africa are engaging in a mix of regional friendlies and intercontinental fixtures as part of the FIFA Series, aiming to build momentum and test combinations.
Clearly stated ambitions
From 10 April, Botswana will get proceedings underway against Saudi Arabia.
The following day, Tunisia face Benin in a fixture that should offer the Carthage Eagles an opportunity to explore new attacking options against an opponent known for their defensive discipline.
A day later, Morocco host Tanzania in one of the standout fixtures of the window. The Atlas Lionesses, who have enjoyed an impressive run in recent years, face a Tanzanian side eager to continue its upward trajectory.
On 14 April, attention turns to a series of high-profile encounters. South Africa meet Algeria in a clash of contrasting styles, with Banyana Banyana’s intensity and pace set against Algeria’s structured and technical approach.
Elsewhere, Egypt take on Saudi Arabia in a match that offers both sides a chance to strengthen their credentials on the international stage, while Benin face Comoros in what promises to be an open and competitive contest.
Adjustments and confirmations expected
The fixtures continue on 16 April, when Tunisia meet Comoros in another test of their readiness against an improving opponent.
On 17 April, South Africa and Algeria renew their rivalry in a second encounter, providing both teams with an opportunity to adapt tactically. Morocco also face Ghana in a high-profile meeting between two of the continent’s most competitive sides.
The series concludes on 19 April with a second meeting between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, offering further insights into both teams’ progress
FIFA Series: a global revealer
Beyond African match-ups, the FIFA Series 2026 has expanded the scope of preparations by pitting African teams against global opposition.
Ivory Coast set the tone with an emphatic 8-0 victory over Mauritania on 9 April, underlining their attacking strength.
On 11 April, Kenya host a mini-tournament in Nairobi featuring Australia, Malawi and India, while Zambia face a stern test against Canada in Brazil.
The following day sees DR Congo take on Indonesia in Thailand, while Mauritania face Pakistan and Ivory Coast meet Turks and Caicos in Abidjan.
Zambia continue their demanding schedule with matches against Brazil on 15 April and South Korea on 18 April, providing valuable experience against top-tier opposition.
A crucial testing ground
The April window represents a key phase in preparations, allowing coaches to experiment, assess squad depth and fine-tune strategies ahead of WAFCON 2026.
With competitive fixtures across continents, African teams are gaining vital exposure and experience — all with the aim of peaking when the continent’s biggest women’s football tournament begins later this year.
Friendly matches in April 2026:
April 10
Saudi Arabia 1–1 Botswana
Scorers: Seba Tawfiq (90+7) / Laone Moloi (28’)
April 12
Tunisia 1-0 Benin
Scorer : M. Houij (90′)
April 13
Senegal 1-0 Burkina Faso
Scorer : S. Ngaye Pene (2′)
Morocco 3-0 Tanzania
Scorers : S.Mssoudy (2′, 77′), Y.Mrabet (80′)
April 14
South Africa vs Algeria
Saudi Arabia vs Egypt
Benin vs Comoros
April 16
Tunisia vs Comoros
April 17
South Africa vs Algeria
Morocco vs Mali
April 19
Saudi Arabia vs Egypt
FIFA Series 2026:
April 9, 2026
Ivory Coast 8-0 Mauritania – Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Ebimpe
April 11, 2026
Australia 5-0 Malawi – Nairobi
Scorers : E. van Egmond (5″), S. Kerr (41″), A. Chidiac (60″), H. McNamara (86″), L. McKenna (90+4)
Kenya 2-0 India – Nairobi
Scorers: M. Emedot (2′) T. Obunya (55′)
Canada 4-0 Zambia – Brazil
Scorers :N. Prince (41′, 45+1), A. Chukwu (81′, 88′)
April 12, 2026
Indonesia 1-7 DR Congo – Thailand
Scorers: C. Scheunemann (7′) / M. Kajinga (23′, 59′), F. Mawete (29′, 74′), M. Kasaj (45+6) O. Massombo (52′), J. Feza (82′)
Mauritania 1-0 Pakistan – Abidjan
Scorer : R. Gengui (21′)
Turks and Caicos 1-15 Ivory Coast – Abidjan
Scorers : I. Moline (28′)/ A.Diallo (6′ 10′ 23′ 42′),P. Kreto (12′ 22′ 27′ 47′ 52′), R. Kouassi (32′), S.Kokora (45′), A. Koko (45+1), I. Konan (78′ 83′), A. Abrogoua (90+3)
April 15, 2026
Brazil vs Zambia – Brazil
India vs Malawi – Kenya (Third-place match – FIFA Series 2026 Kenya)
Kenya vs Australia – Kenya (Final – FIFA Series 2026 Kenya)
Thailand vs DR Congo –Thailand (Final – FIFA Series 2026 Thailand),
April 16, 2026
Ivory Coast vs Pakistan – Abidjan
Turks and Caicos vs Mauritania – Abidjan
April 18, 2026
South Korea vs Zambia – Brazil
-Cafonline
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By Kunle Solaja.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has been postponed, with Africa’s football governing body announcing new dates for the tournament in Morocco.
The Confederation of African Football confirmed that the 2026 edition of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) will now take place from 25 July to 16 August 2026, instead of the earlier scheduled dates of 17 March to 3 April 2026.
Morocco was awarded the hosting rights for the continental showpiece in October 2024, with preparations already underway for what is expected to be one of the biggest editions of the competition. It doubles as the qualification tournament for the Women’s World Cup, as the top four finishers will feature in the global event.
CAF said the decision to move the tournament followed consultations with FIFA and other key stakeholders.
In a statement, CAF explained that the adjustment was made “to ensure the success of this important women’s competition, in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances.”
Although the organisation did not elaborate on the nature of those circumstances, the rescheduling shifts the tournament to the traditional mid-year international football window, which is often more favourable for player availability and logistics.
The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is the continent’s flagship women’s football competition and serves as a crucial platform for the development and visibility of the women’s game in Africa.
Morocco, which successfully hosted the 2022 edition of the tournament, is expected to leverage its modern stadium infrastructure and growing reputation as a major football events destination to deliver another high-profile competition.
CAF expressed confidence that the revised schedule will allow all stakeholders to adequately prepare for the tournament.
“Preparations for the WAFCON 2026 are underway, and all the parties are confident that it will be very successful,” the governing body stated.
The tournament will bring together Africa’s top women’s national teams competing for continental supremacy, with the rescheduling expected to give organisers additional time to ensure optimal preparations for the event.
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The Confederation of African Football has announced that it will issue an official communication within the next 48 hours regarding the situation surrounding the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026.
In a brief message posted on social media, CAF indicated that the matter has been under extensive discussion in recent weeks and is currently receiving urgent attention at the highest levels of the organisation.
“CAF will communicate within the next 48 hours on the situation regarding the #TotalEnergiesWAFCON26. There have been several discussions over the past weeks. The matter is receiving urgent and high-level attention,” the confederation stated.
Although CAF did not provide specific details about the issue under review, the statement suggests that senior officials within the continental governing body are working toward a resolution.
The development has sparked anticipation across the African football community, particularly among national teams preparing for the women’s continental championship.
The Confederation of African Football is expected to clarify the circumstances and outline the next steps for the tournament when it releases its official update within the stipulated timeframe.
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