Former African Footballer of the Year and Super Eagles legend Victor Ikpeba has tipped Nigeria’s Super Falcons as the overwhelming favorites to reclaim their continental crown at the upcoming 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Speaking on the team’s prospects, the “Prince of Monaco” stated that the vast depth of world-class talent at Nigeria’s disposal sets them apart from the rest of the continent. Ikpeba pointed out that the sheer number of Nigerian players consistently competing at the highest levels in elite European leagues and the United States’ National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) gives the Super Falcons an unmatched competitive edge heading into the tournament.
The nine-time African champions are heavily motivated to pick up their 10th official WAFCON title after missing out on the podium entirely at the 2022 edition in Morocco and seeing the 2024 tournament pushed back. With the tournament officially scheduled to run from July 25 to August 16, 2026, the path to glory has already been mapped out for the Falcons.
According to the official tournament schedule released by CAF, Nigeria has been placed in a competitive group where they will face Malawi, Egypt, and a heavyweight clash against Zambia.
Super Falcons 2026 WAFCON Group Stage Schedule
| Matchday | Fixture | Date & Time (WAT) |
| Matchday 1 | Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs. 🇲🇼 Malawi | Saturday, July 25, 2026 @ 6:00 PM |
| Matchday 2 | Nigeria 🇳🇬 vs. 🇿🇲 Zambia | Date TBA @ 6:00 PM |
| Matchday 3 | Egypt 🇪🇬 vs. 🇳🇬 Nigeria | Date TBA @ 6:00 PM |
While players like goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie have publicly preached a more cautious, realistic approach—noting that securing a 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket remains the immediate baseline objective—Ikpeba’s glowing endorsement mirrors the expectations of millions of Nigerian football fans. The legendary forward remains confident that if the team’s star-studded roster gels efficiently under the tournament pressure, the Super Falcons have everything it takes to dominate Africa once again.
