Rasheedat Ajibade blasts NFF over shoddy preparations for WAFCON

Rasheedat Ajibade Criticises NFF Over Super Falcons’ WAFCON 2026 Preparations

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has publicly expressed her frustration with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), calling out what she described as poor planning and disorganisation ahead of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The tournament, set to be hosted in Morocco, is a crucial competition for Nigeria not only for continental success but also as a pathway toward Women’s World Cup qualification. However, recent developments suggest that preparations may not be meeting the expected standard.

Concerns Over Disorganised Preparation

Ajibade’s comments come amid growing concerns about the team’s readiness. Reports indicate that several players were left uncertain about key arrangements during a critical FIFA international window a period typically dedicated to structured national team activities such as training camps and friendly matches.

Instead of a clearly defined schedule, players allegedly received little to no formal communication, raising questions about the level of organisation within the federation.

What Happened Between Ajibade and the NFF?

The situation came to light after Ajibade took to social media to voice her concerns. The Super Falcons captain accused the NFF of failing to properly coordinate essential aspects of the team’s preparation.

According to multiple reports, players were not officially informed about important details, including the venue for the training camp. This lack of clarity reportedly disrupted planning and created uncertainty within the squad at a crucial time.

Ajibade Speaks Out

In her statement, Ajibade did not hold back, emphasizing the importance of proper preparation given the stakes involved:

“We are not just preparing… we are also fighting for World Cup qualification, so why are we not preparing with the seriousness and intensity this demands?”

She further shared evidence suggesting that communication about the camp opening was informal, reinforcing her concerns about a lack of professionalism and structure in the team’s build-up.

What This Means for the Super Falcons

Ajibade’s remarks highlight deeper structural issues that could impact the team’s performance if not addressed promptly. With WAFCON serving as a gateway to global competition, effective preparation is critical.

Nigerians will be hoping that the situation is resolved quickly, allowing the Super Falcons to focus fully on their campaign. A well-organised preparation phase could be the difference between a dominant showing and a disappointing outing on the continental stage.

As anticipation builds for WAFCON 2026, attention will now turn to how the NFF responds and whether meaningful changes will be made to support one of Africa’s most successful women’s football teams.