FIFA window: Falcons lament lack of friendlies

Super Falcons players, led by captain Rasheedat Ajibade, defender Ashleigh Plumptre and Italy-based forward Rinsola Babajide, have amplified growing concerns among Nigerians over the team’s inactivity during the current FIFA international window, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The 10-time WAFCON champions are without a single international friendly in a window that runs until Tuesday, December 2, a period that could have accommodated at least two matches.

PUNCH earlier reported that the Nigeria Football Federation were racing against time to arrange friendly games for the team after an initial potential opponent pulled out. However, hopes of securing any fixture were dashed on Monday as the window officially kicked off, prompting players to express their disappointment on social media.

Ajibade, Plumptre and Babajide shared the same post on their Instagram stories — a flyer designed by football enthusiast Ifeoluwa Leo-Olagbaiye — which read: “AFCON loading, zero friendlies confirmed.”

While Nigeria failed to organise a single match, Ghana secured a high-profile friendly against England scheduled for December 2. Other African sides, including Zambia, Kenya and South Africa, also lined up fixtures to maximise the window.

The Falcons are expected to defend their WAFCON crown in Morocco next year, having sealed qualification with a 3-1 aggregate win over Benin Republic in October. The tournament will double as a qualifying event for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists earning automatic spots and two more heading to intercontinental play-offs.

With the WAFCON slated for March 2026, that period remains the next opportunity for the Falcons to regroup, just before the tournament.

Aside from their unbeaten WAFCON campaign in July, the team have played only three matches this year.

Nigerians, including UK-based journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, criticised the NFF for failing to adequately prepare the team.

“Get the message that Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Ashleigh Plumptre and Rinsola Babajide are sending the NFF — they are not happy with the lack of friendlies. You are really messing WAFCON preparations up due to your incompetence,” Obayiuwana wrote on X.

Sports content creator Dr Victor Ademola also faulted the federation, warning that the Falcons’ WAFCON title defence and World Cup qualification hopes are being jeopardised.

“Nigeria’s women’s team deserves better. Zero friendlies; is World Cup qualifiers preparation being taken seriously? The Super Falcons, reigning WAFCON champions, will not begin preparations until February 2026, just days before the tournament kicks off in March. For a competition that also serves as qualifiers for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, this simply is not good enough. The women deserve priority just like the men — if not more. They have earned it on the pitch,” he said.