Falcons Captain Ajibade Blasts NFF Over Poor Planning, Lack Of Friendlies

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has openly criticised the Nigeria Football Federation over poor preparation for the team’s title defence at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

The Paris Saint-Germain midfielder took to her Instagram stories to vent frustration as the current FIFA international window ends without a single friendly match. Proposed games against Togo and Cape Verde were quietly cancelled, leaving the African champions without vital match practice.

NaijaChoice News understands that the camp, expected to open on April 11, has no official venue or clear schedule announced by the NFF. Ajibade shared a screenshot of her chat with an official asking, “Sir is there no shame? Camp opens on the 11th of April, and we the players, have no idea where the venue is.”

The former Atletico Madrid star pointed out that bloggers and influencers broke the news before the Super Falcons’ official pages. “Look at the way the African champions are treated. I’m ashamed,” she wrote.

This is not the first time Ajibade has spoken out. When CAF postponed WAFCON 2026 from March to July-August in Morocco, she tweeted that “African women’s football deserves better.” The delay already disrupted months of planning after the team had played friendlies against Cameroon.

With the 2026 WAFCON also serving as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the stakes are high. Nigeria’s Super Falcons remain the most decorated side on the continent with 10 titles, including a dramatic comeback victory over Morocco in the last edition. Yet the women continue to battle what many see as second-class treatment compared to the men’s team.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 men’s World Cup after losing to DR Congo in the playoffs. Fans now worry both national teams could miss the global stage in consecutive years if the women’s preparation remains this chaotic.

Ajibade stressed the team is not just chasing another continental crown. “We are not just preparing for WAFCON; we are also fighting for World Cup qualification… so why are we not preparing with the seriousness and intensity this demands,” she questioned.

The NFF is yet to issue any statement on the camp details or the collapsed friendlies. As the July tournament draws closer, pressure is mounting on the federation to fix its approach to the Super Falcons.

Nigerians have long celebrated the women’s team for flying the flag when the men struggle. Many now say it is time the NFF matches that passion with proper planning.