Oshoala, Oladipo and Shittu among the first to arrive as Super Falcons open camp for Senegal friendlies

Nigeria’s senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons, have officially started camping in Ikenne, Ogun State, ahead of their international friendly matches against Senegal as preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) intensify.

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Among the first to arrive at the camp on Monday were six-time African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, defender Shukurat Oladipo and midfielder Kafayat Shittu, as the nine-time African champions began to gather for the crucial double-header.

The Super Falcons opened their camp at the Remo Stars Sports Institute in Ikenne, where they will host Senegal in two friendly matches scheduled for June 5 and 8.

The matches form a key part of Nigeria’s preparations for WAFCON 2026, which will be held in Morocco from July 25 to August 16.

Coach Justine Madugu and members of his technical team arrived at the camp on Monday morning to oversee the team’s preparations, while the remaining invited players are expected to join the team in the coming days.

According to the team’s media department, all 23 invited players have communicated their travel plans and are expected to report to camp as activities gain momentum.

The friendly matches against Senegal will provide Madugu with an important opportunity to evaluate his team, strengthen team cohesion and fine-tune tactical strategies ahead of the continental event.

Nigeria will look to regain the WAFCON title and further reinforce their status as Africa’s most successful women’s national team. The tournament also serves as a qualification route for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The top four teams from WAFCON 2026 will secure automatic qualification for the World Cup, while the fifth-place team will advance to an intercontinental playoff for one last chance to reach the global tournament.

With preparations underway in Ikenne, the Super Falcons will be determined to build momentum, sharpen their competitive edge and build a team capable of mounting a strong challenge for continental glory in Morocco.