Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade admitted that the Super Falcons weren’t at their best in the second leg of the final 2026 WAFCON qualifying match against the Benin Republic in Abeokuta on Tuesday, but insisted they weren’t overconfident, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The Super Falcons were held to a 1-1 draw by the Amazons in Abeokuta on Tuesday, but they had done enough in the first leg to secure a 3-1 aggregate win and seal their place at the 2026 WAFCON in Morocco and defend the title they won for a record 10th time earlier this year.
Defender Ashley Plumptre headed Nigeria in front in the 13th minute off a corner kick from Esther Okoronkwo, but the visitors crawled back into the game on the hour mark through Yasminath Djibril.
Despite the draw, Nigeria sealed passage to Morocco, thanks to a 2-0 win in the first leg which was played in Lome, Togo, last Friday.
Ajibade reflected on the team’s performance and admitted it wasn’t their best game.
“We weren’t overconfident because we expected this from them. When we went to Lome to play against them, we saw what happened in the second half and they came all out. So, we expected them to do the same here because they have nothing to lose,” Ajibade said after the game.”
“They might as well know that a draw here would be huge for them, you see how they celebrated that, but it is left to us not to let down our guard and we keep competing at the highest level because we know our standard.
“We just have to push ourselves and be better. It wasn’t the best of our performance but it’s good to learn and focus on the next game.”
The 2026 tournament will also serve as the qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The PSG player was also presented with the 2024 Nigeria Pitch Award as the best female footballer in the country for last year.
“Special thanks to God Almighty for this incredible honour. 2024 was truly a remarkable year, one filled with challenges and unforgettable moments that have shaped me on and off the pitch.
“This award means a lot to me and to every young girl who dares to play, to every teammate who fought beside me and every Nigerian and African who continues to believe in women’s football. I stand here as a product of hard work, faith and the collective strength of my country and teammates.”
