WAFCON qualifier: Falcons resume training in Abeokuta

Reigning champions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and 10-time winners, the Super Falcons resumed training at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta on Sunday, ahead of the return leg of their final qualifying game for the 2026 WAFCON against the Benin Republic, The PUNCH reports.

WAFCON qualifier: Falcons after camping for almost a week in Lome, Togo, where they played the first leg, the Super Falcons arrived in Nigeria on Saturday via the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, before settling in Abeokuta for the return leg.

Coach Justine Madugu’s side is heading into Tuesday’s return leg in the driver’s seat, following a 2-0 win over the Benenoise last Friday in Lome, Togo.

Midfielder Deborah Abiodun starred with two assists, as Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo fired them to a comfortable win away from home.

They will have another session on Monday (today), as they hope to clinch a ticket to Morocco 2026 and defend the title they won earlier this year.

The Super Falcons won a record-extending 10th continental title in Morocco in July, coming back from two goals down to beat the hosts 3-2 in a tense final.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of African Football has selected Dominique Rosa Hanjavola from Madagascar as referee for Tuesday’s clash between the Super Falcons and the Amazons, with Zimbabwean official Claris Simango as assistant referee 1. Hasimbola Rasoloniaina from Madagascar will work as assistant referee 2, while Grace Gimo from Zimbabwe will be in the role of fourth official.

Christine Ziga from Ghana will serve as commissioner, while Ndeye Fatou Seye from Senegal will be the referee assessor.

Ahead of the 14th edition of the WAFCON in Morocco, the qualification race is intensifying as countries vie for their tickets.

While the Super Falcons were underscoring their superiority over African opposition by defeating the Amazons of the Bénin Republic 2-0 in Lome on Friday, Zambia won their away tie 4-2 to Namibia in Windhoek, leaving them with a simple job to do in the return leg in Ndola on Tuesday.

Ghana’s Black Queens trashed hosts Egypt 3-0, with the return leg also set for Accra on Tuesday, while Mali’s senior girls got the better of Cape Verde 1-0 away in Praia.

Angola and Malawi ended their first leg in Luanda scoreless, same as Senegal and Ivory Coast in Dakar, while hosts Kenya saw off The Gambia 3-1 in Nairobi and Algeria edged Cameroon 2-1.

Burkina Faso and Tanzania have decent 2-0 leads on Togo and Ethiopia, respectively, going for their return legs on away ground, while South Africa’s Banyana Banyana forced the Democratic Republic of Congo to a 1-1 draw away from home.

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