Super Falcons Miss Another Opportunity to Regroup Ahead of WAFCON 2025

The Nigeria national women’s football team, the Super Falcons, are missing another chance to regroup and prepare for the upcoming 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) tournament, scheduled to take place in Morocco from July 5 to 26.

The second international break for women’s football in 2025 started on Monday, March 31, and will run until Tuesday, April 8. However, the Super Falcons will not be taking advantage of this opportunity to regroup and fine-tune their preparations for the tournament.

The team’s last gathering was in November 2024 when they lost 2-1 to France in a high-profile friendly match. Before that, they hosted Algeria in a two-legged friendly game played in Lagos and Ikenne in October 2024.

The draw for the 2024 WAFCON was conducted in November 2024, and the Super Falcons were placed in Group B alongside Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana. Despite the draw being held eight months before the tournament, the team has not had any gatherings or friendlies to prepare for the competition.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Ibrahim Gusau, had promised adequate preparations for the team in an end-of-the-year review. “We are in the process of organising more friendly games for the team, to properly blend the old and new players to a formidable squad that will conquer Africa in style,” Gusau said in December 2024.

However, the reality on the ground is that the Super Falcons are still inactive, and fans are expressing their concerns. Football enthusiast and analyst, Ifeoluwa Leo-Olagbaye, is leading the voices against the current setup of the team and their inactivity.

“The female team of Ivory Coast will host Kenya in a two-match friendly on April 4 and 8. The two countries are preparing ahead to ensure they stage a comeback to WAFCON 2026 with Ivory Coast eyeing a return since 2014 and Kenya looking at a second appearance since 2016. These are serious countries preparing ahead of 2026.

“Super Falcons, who have qualified for WAFCON 2025 with three months to go, have wasted two international windows,” Leo-Olagbaye wrote on Facebook.

Other fans have also expressed their disappointment and frustration with the NFF’s handling of the team’s preparations. “We are waiting for the NFF to come out with their excuses as usual. They should remember that other countries are quickly catching up with Nigeria in female football in Africa. Any below-par performance of Super Falcons is not welcomed,” said Omisore Moses.

The quality of players in the Super Falcons is undeniable, but the lack of preparation and gathering is a cause for concern. The team’s stars, including Asisat Oshoala and Gift Monday, have emphasized the importance of preparation and keeping up their game.

“The year 2025 is going to be better. The mentality is different now, everyone wants to win, and the players are fighting for shirts because there is no automatic spot. We have had back-to-back top games, and we just have to keep that up, and the WAFCON will be a good outing for us,” Oshoala said in January.

“The players are ready because we talk all the time. But it’s not about the mind alone; it’s about preparation. For me, with the right preparation and every other thing, we will be good to go to reclaim our crown,” Monday said in an exclusive interview.

The Super Falcons’ next opportunity to regroup and prepare for the WAFCON 2025 will be during the next international break, scheduled to take place from May 26 to June 3, just one month before the tournament.