Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has expressed confidence ahead of Nigeria's opening match at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, insisting the team is fully prepared to begin its title defence with victory over Malawi, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The defending champions will face the tournament debutants in their Group C opener at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, with kick-off scheduled for 9:00 p.m. Nigeria time. The encounter presents Nigeria with an opportunity to make an early statement in their quest for a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference in Rabat, Ajibade revealed that the squad is in high spirits and determined to take the tournament one game at a time.
"The team's spirit is high. Everyone is fully focused. We know why we're here, and we are ready to take things one step at a time. So we're 100 per cent ready," Ajibade said.
The skipper also acknowledged the progress made by Malawi, urging her teammates not to underestimate the Scorchers despite their status as first-time participants.
"We're approaching every team with a sense of humility and respect. Seeing Malawi qualify for WAFCON for the first time shows the progress they are making and the intentional investment in women's football.
"Some of their players are competing in the top five leagues, which shows the future of women's football in Africa is very bright."
Ajibade stressed that securing all three points remains Nigeria's primary objective, regardless of the style of play.
"A good performance for the Super Falcons is to win three points because that's what matters in this tournament. You can talk about how you play, the tactics and everything else, but if you do all that and don't win, I don't think it counts for anything."
Nigeria will also face Zambia and Egypt in their remaining Group C fixtures as they look to progress to the knockout stage and retain the continental crown.