Super Falcons midfielder Toni Payne said Nigeria wants to win back-to-back Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles in Morocco. She believes Nigeria’s status as the “Giants of Africa” means they must defend the title they won two years ago, as reported by Saturday PUNCH.
Payne, who plays for Inter Milan, was part of the Nigeria squad that won the 2024 title. She talked about the Super Falcons’ title defense, the importance of the tournament for African women’s football, and what winning another trophy would mean for the team in an exclusive chat with FIFPRO.
She highlighted the talent coming from across Africa ahead of the competition. “We know all of the amazing, talented women that have come out of Africa. It is amazing football to watch. I think in Africa we play such a distinct type of football. It will be an exciting one because it is for qualifying for the World Cup,” Payne said.
On Nigeria’s reputation in African football, Payne said the Super Falcons feel the pressure to perform well in every tournament. “It is known that Nigeria has this reputation of being the Giants of Africa. Playing for the Super Falcons holds a lot of weight, and there is a bit of pressure that we win the WAFCON,” she added.
Nigeria will face tough competition for the title in Morocco. The hosts, South Africa, Ghana, Zambia, and other qualified teams are expected to provide serious challenges.
This year’s tournament is even more important because it will also help decide which teams qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup. This raises the stakes for every team involved, including the defending champions.
The Super Falcons beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final of the 2024 WAFCON to win their record-extending tenth continental title. Payne called this victory especially significant because many players were experiencing their first WAFCON and their first major trophy with the national team.
“Winning it for that tenth time with that team was such a huge accomplishment for us. A lot of us, that was our first tournament, our first WAFCON, our first trophy. It meant so much to everyone on the team,” she said.
With this history behind them, Payne and her teammates will aim to win again and strengthen Nigeria’s dominance of the tournament when it starts in Morocco this weekend.
Nigeria arrives as the defending champions and have won the title ten times. They have been placed in Group C with Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi. The Super Falcons will begin their title defense against Malawi on July 28 in Rabat. They will then play Zambia and Egypt in the group stage.
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