The Super Falcons of Nigeria have landed in Rabat, Morocco, ready to defend their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title. The squad arrived with confidence, fresh momentum, and a striking new jersey as they aim for a record‑extending eleventh continental crown.
Preparations in Casablanca
Prior to the trip to Rabat, the team completed a ten‑day training camp in Casablanca. The camp concluded on a positive note with a 2‑1 friendly victory over Tanzania’s Twiga Stars on Thursday. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade and AFC Toronto forward Esther Okoronkwo scored the goals, giving the squad an extra boost of confidence.
Stylish Arrival and New Jersey
The players made a fashionable entrance, stepping off the team bus in coordinated green‑and‑white tie‑dye African outfits complemented by matching traditional headwraps. Before the tournament, Nigeria unveiled a special commemorative jersey featuring ten stars surrounding the badge — each star representing one of the nation’s past WAFCON triumphs. The kit was first worn in the win over Tanzania and will be donned throughout the competition as the Falcons chase an eleventh star.
Group C Fixtures
Nigeria has been placed in Group C and will play all three matches in Rabat. The title defence opens against tournament debutants Malawi’s Scorchers at Al Madina Stadium on Tuesday. The Falcons will then face Zambia’s Copper Queens at the same venue before concluding the group stage against Egypt’s Cleopatras at the Olympic Stadium.
Theft Allegations at Casablanca Hotel
While on‑field preparations have proceeded smoothly, the team’s stay in Casablanca was marred by allegations of theft. Esther Okoronkwo claimed that money was taken from players’ wallets at the Marriott Hotel, initially stating a loss of $500 and later correcting it to $700. She alleged that housekeeping staff entered the rooms while the players were away and stole the cash.
Okoronkwo added that hotel officials provided unsatisfactory responses when the issue was reported and began acting disrespectfully. The Super Falcons’ Media Officer, Mary Cathryn, confirmed that the incident had been reported by team members and forwarded to the relevant Moroccan authorities for investigation.
As of the time of this report, neither the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the Marriott Hotel Casablanca, nor the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has issued an official public statement regarding the allegations.
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