Super Falcons Face Tough Challenge as South Africa Step Up WAFCON Preparations

Nigeria’s Super Falcons face a major challenge in their bid to reclaim the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, as defending champions South Africa intensify their preparations to retain the trophy.

While the Super Falcons currently have no scheduled matches, South Africa’s Banyana Banyana will play two friendly games against their COSAFA neighbours, Lesotho, in Johannesburg later this month.

The first match is set for 22 February 2025, followed by a second game on 25 February. These fixtures are part of a nine-day training camp from 17 to 26 February, led by head coach Desiree Ellis.

South Africa’s senior women’s team will return to action for the first time in 2025 after playing two friendlies against Jamaica in Montego Bay last December.

Coach Ellis has stressed that these matches are crucial for refining tactics and increasing squad depth ahead of WAFCON 2025, which will take place in Morocco from 5 to 26 July.

The Super Falcons, Africa’s most successful women’s team with nine WAFCON titles, have not lifted the trophy since 2018. Despite their long dominance, they will be determined to reclaim their crown, just as they did after Equatorial Guinea briefly interrupted their reign.

Nigeria have been preparing seriously, securing back-to-back friendly wins over Algeria last year before putting up a strong fight in a 2-1 loss to France in November.

However, with South Africa stepping up their preparations, the Super Falcons must organise high-quality friendlies to match their rivals’ intensity before the tournament begins in July.

With both teams strengthening their squads, WAFCON 2025 is set to be one of the most competitive editions yet.