WAFCON 2024: Madugu Submits Squad List as Falcons Prepare for Portugal Camp

WAFCON 2024: Madugu Submits Squad List as Falcons Prepare for Portugal Camp

By Admin 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to unveil the Super Falcons’ provisional squad for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in the coming days, following the submission of the player list by head coach Justin Madugu,

Nigeria will aim for a record-extending 10th continental title at this year’s tournament, scheduled to take place in Morocco from July 5 to 26. The Falcons are drawn in Group B, where they will face Tunisia, Algeria, and Botswana.

Their campaign kicks off on July 6 against Tunisia at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

Madugu, who is leading the team to his first major tournament since succeeding American coach Randy Waldrum, confirmed the squad list has already been submitted to the NFF. “The list has been submitted and it will be made public in the coming days by the federation. That will definitely happen before our friendly against Portugal on Monday,” Madugu told PUNCH Sports Extra.

The coach declined to disclose the number or identities of the players included in the provisional squad, saying only that the federation would handle the official release.

 “We know the procedure. We have submitted the list, and it will be made official by the federation. Maybe after it has been released, if there are questions for me to answer, I will attend to them,” he added.

Final Preparations in Portugal

As part of their final preparations, the Super Falcons will travel to Portugal, where they will train and play a friendly match against the Portuguese women’s national team on Monday, less than a month before the tournament begins.

NFF Launches ‘Mission X’ Campaign

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation has rolled out a robust media campaign tagged "Mission X" to rally support for the Super Falcons from fans across Nigeria and the diaspora.

With nine WAFCON titles from 12 tournaments since the CAF began staging the event in 1998, the Super Falcons are Africa’s most decorated women’s national team.

 “We are committed to fully supporting the Super Falcons’ campaign for a 10th continental title. That is why we are launching the Mission X campaign—to sensitise football-loving Nigerians at home and in the diaspora, young and old, from all walks of life, to come out and support the team,” said NFF General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, speaking from the United States.

Sanusi added that the federation is confident in the team’s ability to reclaim their crown in Morocco, having last won the tournament in 2018.

The Super Falcons also made history as Africa’s sole representatives at the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cups in 1991 and 1995, although WAFCON had not yet been established as a tournament during those years.