Nigeria's Super Falcons have won the Women's Africa Cup of Nations title 10 times, but they are still hungry for more and have arrived in Morocco with yet another mission: Mission XI.
This evening in Rabat, they begin the plot to accomplish that mission with the opening Group C encounter against WAFCON first-timers Malawi in a clash seen as a David and Goliath duel.
As giants of Africa, Nigeria's Super Falcons have always showed up for duty at the WAFCON, and the story will be no different when they line up against the Scorchers, as the Malawians are nicknamed.
While the Falcons are among the overwhelming favourites to win this year's tournament, the Malawians are also considered outsiders so far as getting into the final four of this tournament is concerned—not just as debutants, but because they have very little to their names so far as women's football is concerned.
Malawi are very much aware of their status and the situation they find themselves in, but they are still determined to put up a fight and not become the whipping girls of Group C, as the pundits have already tagged them.
The path to WAFCON 2026 was rather simple: earning a walkover against Congo before beating Angola 2-0 in their final round. As part of their build-up for the WAFCON, they were given a reality check, beaten 4-0 by Ghana's Black Queens last week.
That still does not scare the Scorchers, who relish their opportunity in Morocco and insist they have arrived to challenge for the title like everyone else.
"Getting this far means that we are ready for this match. People may underestimate us but we are a good team, capable of causing an upset. We are not resigned victims," head coach Lovemore Fazili said at the pre-match press conference.
They may not have the known stars, but Malawi are banking their hope on their stars, Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, who are the backbone of the team.
Though this is their first WAFCON outing, Malawi will be relying on the experience of 30-year-old Tabitha Chawinga, who presently plays for French women's league side Lyon, to inspire them to survive the obvious intimidation they will face.
Chawinga, a well-travelled player who has played for some of the big clubs, including Paris Saint-Germain, does not only carry the nation's hope but also a personal dream, as she believes it is not enough to be a good player; showing up for one's country on such stages is everything.
"It was my dream to play in the WAFCON. The time has come. We know Nigeria's worth. They are a great nation but we must focus on ourselves. Our players need to compete without any inferiority complex," Chawinga said at the press conference.
Business as Usual for Nigeria
Malawi may be plotting to stop the Nigerians, who come into this tournament with a clean record against first-timers. They have never lost to debutants, a record they intend to keep in their opening game.
The victory of their 10th title, incidentally won in Morocco during the 2024 tournament, is still lingering in their memory, and with many of the players who delivered that title still on duty, Coach Justine Madugu has no doubt that they will be successful in their title defence as they also have their eyes on a 2027 Women's World Cup slot.
"We are here to defend our title and secure our qualification for the World Cup. The team is fully prepared and ready for battle. We have deep respect for Malawi. They are a very good team, and we are taking absolutely nothing for granted."
They may boast of experience and some of the most clinical finishers, but the defending champions are more focused on the points to be won rather than how they show up.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, with a fourth WAFCON appearance, minced no words at the press conference: "For us, a good performance means taking all three points. That is what really matters in a tournament like this. If you play well but don't win, it is pointless. So we are in for the win," she stated.
