PSG star Jennifer Echegini targets back-to-back WAFCON titles with Super Falcons

Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Jennifer Echegini believes Nigeria’s Super Falcons have a clear mission to win the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Afrik-Foot reports.

The midfielder played a key role in Nigeria’s triumph at the 2024 edition of the tournament. Echegini scored the decisive goal as the Super Falcons came from behind to defeat Morocco 3-2 in the final, securing another continental crown.

That victory was Echegini’s first WAFCON title and extended Nigeria’s remarkable record to ten championships since the competition began in 1998.

Nigeria’s journey to the trophy was far from easy. The Super Falcons overcame strong opposition, including defending champions South Africa, a resilient Zambia side and hosts Morocco before lifting the title.

Several other teams are expected to challenge Nigeria in the next edition. Ghana, Senegal, Cameroon and Côte d’Ivoire will all join Morocco and South Africa among the nations hoping to stop the Super Falcons from retaining their crown.

Echegini, who made her international debut in 2022 under former coach Randy Waldrum, says the team is already thinking about the future.

“We won the Afcon as you know. Obviously we want to win the next Afcon, and then 2027 we have the World Cup,” Echegini told Onyonyo Mbaise.

“So we want to be one of the big teams heading into the World Cup and winning”.

Super Falcons preparing for delayed WAFCON

Nigeria will now have to wait longer than expected to defend their title. The Confederation of African Football recently confirmed that the 2026 tournament in Morocco has been moved to July.

Despite the delay, the Super Falcons have already begun preparing for the competition.

Their most recent outing came in a two-match friendly series against Cameroon. The Indomitable Lionesses won the first game 1-0 at the Military Stadium in Yaoundé.

However, Nigeria responded strongly in the second meeting four days later at the same venue. Goals from Chinwendu Ihezuo, Rinsola Babajide and Michelle Alozie secured a convincing 3-1 victory for the Super Falcons.

All three scorers were part of the squad that lifted the WAFCON trophy in 2024, a pointer to the strong core within the team.

Following those matches, the national team camp has been closed as players returned to their clubs, while attention shifts towards preparations for the rescheduled tournament in Morocco.