Ajibade demands victory in first match

Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade has said that only a win will satisfy the Super Falcons when they start defending their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title against Malawi on Tuesday night, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

At a pre-match press conference in Rabat, the Atletico Madrid forward said the mood in camp is positive. The players are fully focused on making a strong start to their quest for a record 11th WAFCON title.

“The team’s spirit is high. Everyone is fully focused. We know why we’re here and we are ready to take things one step at a time. So we’re 100 per cent ready,” Ajibade said.

The Super Falcons will kick off their Group C campaign against tournament debutants Malawi at Stade El Barid. Zambia and Egypt are also in the group. While Nigeria are favorites, Ajibade said the team will approach the Scorchers with humility and respect. She praised the growth of women’s football in Africa.

“We’re approaching every team with a sense of humility and respect. Seeing Malawi qualify for WAFCON for the first time shows the progress they are making and the investment in women’s football. Some of their players are competing in the top five leagues, which shows the future of women’s football in Africa is very bright,” she said.

Ajibade recognizes the importance of playing good football, but she stressed that getting results is what matters in tournament play.

“A good performance for the Super Falcons is to win three points because that’s what matters in this tournament. You can talk about how you play, the tactics and everything else, but if you do all that and don’t win, I don’t think it counts for anything.”

Ajibade also called on Nigerian fans to keep supporting the team throughout the tournament. She described their support as a key factor in the Falcons’ past successes.

“We see their support, we see their love and how much they want us to win. Their support has always been instrumental to our success. We want them to replicate that energy and even double it because we need it to keep raising the standard and keep flying the flag of our nation high. We will do everything possible to make them proud.”

Looking beyond the tournament, the 25-year-old urged stakeholders to focus on creating a safe and supportive environment for female athletes. She said having good facilities alone won’t guarantee the growth of women’s football in Nigeria.

“It’s all about creating the right environment. When athletes feel safe to express themselves and develop, participation and retention will increase. Infrastructure is important, but without the right environment, we won’t achieve our goals. Those of us who already have platforms must continue to advocate and be role models for the next generation.”

Nigeria heads into the tournament as defending champions after a 2-1 win over Tanzania in their last warm-up game. Malawi is making their first appearance in the continental tournament. Kick-off for Tuesday’s Group C opener is set for 9pm Nigerian time.