uper Falcons Coach, Justine Madugu, believes his side has the materials to beat Benin Republic soundly in the first leg of their Morocco 2026 African Women’s Cup of Nations toe in Lome, Togo, today, but he also knows that the game will not be a walk in the park.
The Amazons will host the Super Falcons Super Falcons at the 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué in the Togolese capital, Lomè, with the Cup holders seeking a comfortable win that will render the return leg in Nigeria on Tuesday a mere formality.
The Nigerians are in Togo with 19 players following the inability of Jennifer Echegini to make the game due to injury. But Madugu has said that he is not daunted by the absence of the Paris St. Germain midfielder, promising that his squad will go all out for the goals that will earn it the ticket to a defence of the title won in Morocco this summer. The Kingdom of Morocco will also host next year’s houseparty, where all semi-finalists will collect automatic qualification tickets to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Brazil.
“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.” With Echegini out, Madugu is likely to opt for US-based impresario Deborah Abiodun to start, alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe in the middle, with Chiamaka Nnadozie (one of the best goalkeepers in the world) marshalling a defence-line of Michelle Alozie, Tosin Demehin, Osinachi Ohale and Ashley Plumptre.
In the fore, Madugu has Esther Okoronkwo (doubtless one of Nigeria’s impact players at this year’s Women AFCON), the pushful Chinwendu Ihezuo, six-time Africa Player of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, new-face Joy Omewa and China-based Folashade Ijamilusi, who was also a delight as Nigeria won a 10th AFCON title in Morocco this summer.
Gambian official Ngum Fatou will be the referee of the encounter that begins at 3.00 p.m. Togo time (4.00 p.m. Nigeria time). The Super Falcons in Togo are 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); and Miracle Usani (Abia Angels).
The midfielders in the squad are Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France); Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal), while the attack comprises 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); and Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens).
