Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, have been dealt another setback in their preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after Jamaica pulled out of a planned international friendly in the United Kingdom later this month, Trybal News reports.
The friendly had been scheduled as part of the Super Falcons training camp billed to hold between May 23 and 28. The arrangement was expected to keep the squad active despite the absence of an official FIFA international window.
However, those plans have now been disrupted following Jamaica’s withdrawal, further worsening concerns over the team’s limited preparation matches ahead of the continental tournament in Morocco.
The 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is scheduled to take place from July 26 to August 16 after the competition was postponed from its original March date.
Preparations for the tournament have already been affected by a shortage of international friendlies, with the Super Falcons having regrouped only once since sealing qualification for the competition last October.
That gathering came in a two-legged friendly against Cameroon women’s national football team in Yaoundé. Nigeria lost the opening match 1-0 before recovering strongly to claim a 3-1 victory in the second encounter.
The Super Falcons remain the most successful team in the history of the competition, having won the title a record 10 times. Their most recent triumph came after a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco women’s national football team in last year’s final.
Concern has also continued to grow among players over what is being viewed as inadequate preparation for such an important tournament. Apart from defending their continental crown, qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup will also be at stake during the competition.
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade had earlier voiced her frustration over the situation in April.
“We are not just preparing for the Women’s African Cup of Nations, we are also fighting for World Cup qualification. So, why are we not preparing with the seriousness and intensity this demands? Abeg, wetin be all this one? (What is all this?) For how long?” Ajibade lamented.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie also questioned why the Super Eagles already had confirmed warm-up matches lined up for the Unity Cup in the UK while the women’s team continued to struggle for fixtures.
Nigeria have been drawn in Group C of the 2026 WAFCON alongside Zambia women’s national football team, Egypt women’s national football team and tournament debutants Malawi women’s national football team.
