Super Falcons Captain Rasheedat Ajibade Criticises CAF Over Small Hotel Rooms at WAFCON
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has caused a stir after speaking out about poor accommodation provided to players at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Ajibade posted a message on Instagram showing her frustration, saying that she and a teammate were placed in a room “the size of a kitchen.” She tagged the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and demanded better conditions.
“Two professional women players in this kitchen-size room in a prestigious WAFCON,” Ajibade wrote. “@caf_online @cafwomenfootball you can do better.”
This year marks the second time in a row that Morocco is hosting the tournament. The country has recently hosted other CAF events, such as the CAF Awards, and had been praised for its efforts. However, Ajibade’s complaint raises questions about how seriously women’s football is being taken behind the scenes.
Nigeria’s Tougher Challenge in African Women’s Football
Nigeria has long been the dominant force in African women’s football. But times are changing. At the last WAFCON, the Super Falcons finished in fourth place, a big drop from their usual top spot.
Other countries like South Africa (Banyana Banyana), who are the current champions, Morocco, and Zambia are now real threats. These teams have invested heavily in developing their women’s squads, and they now compete at the same level as Nigeria.
Ajibade’s New Leadership Role
As the team’s new captain, Ajibade has a lot of responsibility, not just to play well, but also to lead the team through challenges like this one. Leadership now is not only about being popular or talented, but also about being reliable, consistent, and able to speak up for the team.
She has already shown she’s ready to fight for better conditions, but she will also be judged by how she performs on the pitch and how well she supports her teammates when things get tough.
