Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade says Nigeria’s women’s national team is ready to take its dominance beyond Africa and establish itself as a global force in women’s football.

The Justine Madugu-led side remains Africa’s most successful women’s team, boasting 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) titles and an unbroken record of qualifying for every FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Despite that continental success, the Falcons have often struggled to consistently compete with the world’s elite teams.

Ajibade, who plays for Paris Saint-Germain, said the players are now more determined than ever to change that narrative.

“We’re saying we don’t just want to be African champions anymore — we want to be global contenders,” Ajibade told FIFA.com.
“We want to make sure that we surpass the level we’ve reached because we know we have the quality and the talent to do so.”

The Super Falcons recently booked their place at the 2026 WAFCON after securing a 3–1 aggregate victory over Benin Republic on Tuesday.

Next year’s continental championship will also serve as the African qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be hosted by Brazil.

Ajibade emphasized that the team’s ambition is not just to qualify but to prepare adequately to challenge for the world title.

“We have to keep improving and believing in ourselves. It’s time to take Nigerian women’s football to the next level,” she added.