'Seek the goals' - Ballon d’Or nominated coach vows Super Falcons will attack Benin in WAFCONQ 2026

Nigeria’s Super Falcons ready for goals in WAFCON qualifier against Benin as coach Justine Madugu promises 'All-Out' attack to secure WAFCON 2026 spot. The 10-time African champions, Nigeria's Super Falcons, will face their West African neighbours, the Benin Republic's Amazons, in the first leg of their final qualifying fixture for the 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Friday, October 24, at the Stade de Kégué in Lomè, Togo. Head Coach, Justine Madugu, who was recently nominated for the prestigious 2025 Ballon d’Or Women’s Team Coach of the Year award, has made a bold promise: the team will "go all out for the goals" to ensure the return leg in Nigeria on Tuesday is a mere formality. The winner of this two-legged tie will secure a place at the continental showpiece in Morocco, which also serves as Africa's qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Madugu’s Bold Attack Strategy Madugu, who led the Super Falcons to their record-extending 10th WAFCON title in Morocco in 2024, is focused on clinical execution from his 19-player squad. "We have a team that will go out there and make us proud," Madugu to the NFF ahead of the match. "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.” The coach's mandate for an attacking display is critical, especially as the team aims to establish an unassailable lead away from home. The Super Falcons have a reputation to maintain as the continent's most dominant women's football team, and a comfortable victory would send a strong statement to other WAFCON contenders. Key Absences The Super Falcons will have to manage without Paris Saint-Germain star midfielder, Jennifer Echegini, who is sidelined due to injury. This absence opens the door for US-based impresario Deborah Abiodun to potentially start alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade and the hard-tackling Christy Ucheibe in midfield. In defence, the line will be marshalled by world-class goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie (who was also a Ballon d'Or nominee for the inaugural Yacine Trophy), shielded by experienced full-backs Michelle Alozie and Ashley Plumptre, with Osinachi Ohale and Tosin Demehin likely forming the central pairing. The firepower up front is formidable, featuring six-time Africa Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, alongside impact players like Esther Okoronkwo and Chinwendu Ihezuo. Nigeria enters the tie as overwhelming favourites against a Benin side that is yet to make its mark on the continental stage. The 2026 WAFCON is not just about defending a title; it has heightened importance as a direct qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, where the semi-finalists will earn an automatic ticket. This double-stake scenario fuels Madugu's aggressive strategy to ensure qualification is sealed early. The Super Falcons’ ability to break down Benin's expected low-block defence, a strategy employed by smaller teams against African powerhouses, will be the determining factor. A dominant win for the Super Falcons would not only secure a strong aggregate lead but also boost squad morale and reassert their continental supremacy. For Benin, holding the African champions to a narrow defeat or a draw would be a monumental achievement. A decisive victory for Nigeria will allow the coach to manage minutes in the return leg, focusing on player fitness for the main tournament.