2026 WAFCON: Falcons target Bénin’s Amazons’ scalp in Lome

African champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, is battle-ready to take the senior female football team of the Benin Republic, the Amazons, to the cleaners in the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture, first leg match to be played on Friday at the 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué in Lome, the Togolese capital.

Head coach, Justine Madugu, has a total of 19 players available for the encounter and has promised that the 10-time continental champions will go all out for the goals that will earn it the ticket to defend their title in Morocco next year. 

“We have a team that will go out there and make us proud. Yes, we would have loved to have Jennifer (Echegini), but we do not and we can only pray for her to recover quickly. On Friday, we will go out and play our game and seek the goals that will put us in a good stead ahead of the return leg,” Coach Madugu said. 

With Echegini out, the coach is likely to opt for US-based Deborah Abiodun to start alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe in the middle, with Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal and be shielded defence line of Michelle Alozie, Tosin Demehin, Osinachi Ohale and Ashley Plumptre.

Esther Okoronkwo is expected to be in the forefront alongside Chinwendu Ihezuo, six-time Africa Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, new face Joy Omewa and China-based Folashade Ijamilusi. 

Gambian official Ngum Fatou will be the referee of the encounter that begins at 3pm Togo time (4pm Nigeria time). 

All semi-finalists at next year’s WAFCON will automatically secure qualification tickets to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals to be hosted by Brazil.

Players in camp: 

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels)

Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France); Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

Forwards: Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Joy Omewa (Fortuna Hjorrin FC, Denmark); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Asisat Oshoala (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens).

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