The 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué in the Togolese capital, Lomè, is the venue for Friday’s 2026 Women Africa Cup of Nations final qualifying fixture, the first leg match between 10-time champions Nigeria and their Bèninoise counterparts, known as Amazons, with the Cup holders seeking a comfortable win that will render the return leg in Nigeria on Tuesday a mere formality, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
Head Coach Justine Madugu has a total of 19 players available for the encounter and has promised his squad will go all out to score the goals that will earn them a ticket to defend the title won in Morocco this summer. The Kingdom of Morocco will also host next year’s houseparty, where all semi-finalists will collect automatic qualification tickets to 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 to recover quickly.
“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.”
With Echegini out, Madugu is likely to opt for US-based impresario Deborah Abiodun to start, alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe in the middle, with Chiamaka Nnadozie (one of the best goalkeepers in the world) marshalling a defence line of Michelle Alozie, Tosin Demehin, Osinachi Ohale, and Ashley Plumptre.
In the fore, Madugu has Esther Okoronkwo (doubtless one of Nigeria’s impact players at this year’s Women AFCON), the pushful Chinwendu Ihezuo, six-time Africa Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, new-face Joy Omewa, and China-based Folashade Ijamilusi, who was also a delight as Nigeria won a tenth AFCON title in Morocco this summer.
Gambian official Ngum Fatou will be the referee of the encounter that begins at 3pm Togo time (4pm Nigeria time).
Credit: NFF