The Super Falcons’ preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) received another boost on Thursday with the arrival of Omorinsola Babajide, taking the number of players in camp to 12 as Nigeria intensifies preparations in Casablanca, Morocco.
The AS Roma forward checked into camp on Thursday evening, hours after Toni Payne, who recently completed a move to Inter Milan Women, joined the squad.
Babajide and Payne linked up with a group that already includes captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, six-time African Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, and midfielder Christy Ucheibe.
Also present in camp are Glory Ogbonna, Fatima Oloko, Oluwatosin Demehin, Rofiat Imuran, and Shukurat Oladipo, as the nine-time African champions continue preparations for the continental tournament.
The Super Falcons have established their training base in Casablanca, where they are gearing up for Group C fixtures against Egypt, Malawi, and Zambia, as well as a pre-tournament friendly against regional rivals Ghana.
Meanwhile, defender Oluwatosin Demehin has spoken of her determination to help Nigeria retain the WAFCON title, describing her maiden triumph with the Super Falcons as a defining moment in her international career.
The Galatasaray defender recalled winning the continental title during her first WAFCON appearance, saying the experience continues to inspire her performances for the national team.
“Winning the gold medal and the team lifting the Cup in my first Women AFCON always makes me feel special. It also gives me enormous confidence when we are playing a match or playing a tournament. It showed me what is possible with hard work and teamwork,” Demehin said.
“That success has continued to motivate me to keep improving, to keep helping the team in every way I can, and it is my driving force to fight with the team to defend our title in Morocco.”
Demehin has established herself as a regular in Nigeria’s defence since the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand and was a key member of the squad that secured the country’s most recent WAFCON title.
Looking ahead to this year’s competition, the centre-back expects a more demanding tournament following the expansion to 16 teams but remains confident in Nigeria’s ability to challenge for another continental crown.
“It will be tough, as more teams are getting stronger in Africa. We are motivated to succeed, but we must be consistent, compact at the rear, fluid in midfield and clinical in attack,” she added.
With more players expected to report to camp in the coming days, the Super Falcons will continue their build-up in Morocco before opening their WAFCON campaign against Egypt in Group C.
