With the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) just two months away, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has failed to arrange any friendly matches for the Super Falcons during the current international break — raising serious concerns about the organisation’s preparation and priorities ahead of the tournament.
The Super Falcons are Africa’s most successful national football side across both men’s and women’s categories, having claimed 10 continental titles. Yet, according to reports, the NFF initially secured last-minute options in Cape Verde and Togo as potential warm-up opponents — sides that subsequently withdrew. The collapse of those arrangements left the team without any competitive preparation during a window that could prove critical to their title defence.
The situation drew further scrutiny given that nations not even participating in WAFCON are using the break productively. Kenya’s Harambee Starlets are competing in the FIFA Series, where they are scheduled to face Australia. Malawi — one of Nigeria’s group-stage opponents at WAFCON this year — also faced Australia’s Matildas, despite losing 5-0. The FIFA Series, designed specifically to provide international match opportunities, highlights the gap in the NFF’s planning.
The Falcons’ most recent friendly against a high-ranking opponent was a match against Portugal’s women’s national team in 2025. Earlier in 2026, the team played two fixtures against Cameroon. Beyond those engagements, top-level preparation has been sparse for a side that will need to be at its sharpest as WAFCON doubles as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
In stark contrast, the NFF has arranged four matches for the Super Eagles — the men’s national team — in May and June. The Super Eagles are not currently preparing for any imminent major tournament, having failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Their next major competition is scheduled for June 2026. Despite this, they are set to participate in the Unity Cup in May and play friendlies against Portugal and Poland in June.
The disparity in scheduling has amplified criticism of how the federation allocates resources and attention between its men’s and women’s programmes. The Falcons have historically faced challenges with the NFF, including payment disputes and bonus disagreements — issues that have periodically surfaced in the lead-up to major tournaments.
Nigeria’s WAFCON campaign begins in June, with the tournament serving as both a title-defence opportunity and a pathway to the 2027 Women’s World Cup. The absence of meaningful warm-up matches against competitive opposition represents a significant preparation gap for a squad that, under normal circumstances, would be expected to be one of the leading contenders on the continent.
