Reigning titleholders with ten championships under their belt kick off their bid for another trophy against the Scorchers

Nigeria, the ten-time African champions, will commence their title defence in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations against newcomers Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday, with coach Justin Madugu emphasizing that anything less than a win would be unacceptable for the Super Falcons.

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Madugu's expectations for the tournament were made clear during the pre-match press conference, where he stated that the team's ultimate goal is to emerge victorious in every match, approaching each game with the intention of winning, and this mindset will guide their strategy throughout the competition.

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The Super Falcons are heading into the tournament in impressive form, having secured eight wins in their last nine matches across all competitions, demonstrating their strength and readiness for the challenge ahead.

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The team concluded their preparations with a 2-1 victory over Tanzania, courtesy of goals from captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Esther Okoronkwo, who netted the winner in the second half, providing a confidence boost ahead of their opening match.

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Nigeria is seeking to extend their record by claiming a 11th continental title, building on their previous success when they defeated hosts Morocco 3-2 in a thrilling final to retain their crown at the previous edition of the tournament.

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Malawi, on the other hand, arrives in Morocco after experiencing a difficult run of results, with five defeats in their last six matches, including a 4-0 loss to Ghana in their final warm-up fixture, which may have dented their confidence.

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The Scorchers, who are making their debut appearance at the tournament, have struggled to find the back of the net, failing to score in four of their last six games, which could be a concern for their attacking prospects.

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However, Malawi has shown glimpses of their potential, having drawn with the highly-regarded Zambia and convincingly overcoming Angola in their final qualifying fixture for the tournament, indicating that they should not be underestimated.

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Nigeria is expected to be without the services of defender Ashleigh Plumptre due to injury, but they have otherwise assembled a strong squad, with Ajibade and Okoronkwo poised to lead the attack and drive the team's scoring efforts.

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Malawi may rely on the threat posed by the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, in their forward line, who could potentially cause problems for the Nigerian defence with their skills and pace.

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The Falcons' preparations have been marred by an off-field incident, in which forward Okoronkwo alleged that $700 was stolen from her wallet at the squad's Marriott Hotel base in Casablanca, with several teammates also reportedly affected by the theft.

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Following her comments about the incident, Okoronkwo's Instagram page was flooded with racist messages, including monkey emojis and other abusive comments, which sparked a wave of condemnation and support for the player.

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Despite the disturbing incident, Nigeria's focus has remained on the task ahead, with Okoronkwo taking to Instagram on Sunday to condemn the abuse while reaffirming the team's unity and determination to succeed in the tournament, saying "Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that, we move forward with pride, unity and determination, see you on the pitch".

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After Tuesday's opener against Malawi, the Super Falcons will face Zambia and Egypt to complete their Group C campaign, which promises to be a challenging and exciting series of matches.