2026 WAFCON Qualifiers: Falcons Aim For Comfortable Win Over Bénin’s Amazons

The 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué in the Togolese capital, Lomé, will host TOday’s first leg match of the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture between 10-time champions Nigeria and their Béninoise counterparts, known as the Amazons. The Cup holders are seeking a comfortable win that will make the return leg in Nigeria on Tuesday a mere formality.

Head Coach Justine Madugu has a total of 19 players available for the encounter and has promised that his squad will go all out for the goals necessary to secure a ticket to defend the title won in Morocco this summer. Morocco will also host next year’s tournament, where all semi-finalists will earn automatic qualification for 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 swift recovery.

“On Friday, we will play our game and seek the goals that will put us in a strong position ahead of the return leg.”

With Echegini unavailable, Madugu is likely to choose US-based player Deborah Abiodun to start, alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe in midfield, with Chiamaka Nnadozie (one of the best goalkeepers in the world) leading a defence line of Michelle Alozie, Tosin Demehin, Osinachi Ohale, and Ashley Plumptre.

In attack, Madugu has Esther Okoronkwo (one of Nigeria’s standout players at this year’s Women AFCON), the dynamic Chinwendu Ihezuo, six-time Africa Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, newcomer Joy Omewa, and China-based Folashade Ijamilusi, who shone as Nigeria secured a tenth AFCON title in Morocco this summer.

Gambian official Ngum Fatou will officiate the match, which begins at 3 PM Togo time (4 PM Nigeria time).