WAFCON 2024: Nigeria, Ghana renew rivalry in Morocco friendly

Femi Fabunmi

Nigeria’s senior women’s national football team, the Super Falcons, are set to play a crucial international friendly match against Ghana’s Black Princesses as part of their final preparations for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The match, which promises to reignite the fierce West African football rivalry between the two nations, will take place in Morocco. The Black Princesses of Ghana are currently holding their training camp in the Moroccan city of Benslimane, where they are fine-tuning their strategies ahead of the tournament.

On the other hand, the Super Falcons, led by head coach Justine Madugu, are scheduled to travel to Portugal this week to kick-start their final training phase. As part of their preparation, they will also take on Portugal’s national team in another friendly encounter slated for Monday, June 23.

These matches are expected to help the team improve their match fitness, build stronger team chemistry, and fine-tune tactics before the tournament officially kicks off.

Nigeria, nine-time champions of the Women’s AFCON, are drawn into Group B, where they will face Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria. The group is seen as competitive, but many fans believe the Super Falcons have the experience and quality to advance.

Ghana, meanwhile, will compete in Group C alongside defending champions South Africa (popularly known as Banyana Banyana), Mali, and Tanzania. Their group is equally tough, with many predicting a fierce battle for qualification spots.

Coach Madugu has expressed confidence in his squad’s abilities and believes the upcoming friendlies will provide a solid platform to test new tactics, assess players’ readiness, and boost the team’s morale ahead of the main event.

Fans across the continent are eagerly anticipating the kickoff of WAFCON 2024, which promises to showcase the best of African women’s football talent.

2025 WAFCON will kick start on July 5 in Rabat, Morocco.