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Ajibade Ready for WAFCON 2026 Title Defence

Published

1 month ago

July 7, 2026

Ajibade Ready for WAFCON 2026 as Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade intensifies fitness preparations ahead of the Morocco tournament

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has declared her readiness for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after stepping up personal fitness preparations ahead of Nigeria’s official training camp in Morocco.

Also read: Roberto Martinez Quits Portugal After World Cup Exit

The Paris Saint-Germain Women midfielder shared images from her private training sessions in Mallorca, Spain, where she has been working on her conditioning alongside teammates and fellow Nigerian internationals Jennifer Echegini and Rinsola Babajide.

Ajibade, who inspired Nigeria to a record-extending 10th WAFCON title in Morocco in 2025, said her preparations were focused on returning stronger for the continental tournament.

“Off season, on purpose. Mallorca with Nike and 292 Performance. Ready for WAFCON 2026 for God’s glory,” Ajibade wrote on X.

The 26-year-old was a standout performer during Nigeria’s previous WAFCON triumph, earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player award after helping the Super Falcons retain their dominance in African women’s football.

At the last edition, staged in July 2025, Ajibade also claimed three Player of the Match awards, further establishing herself as one of the leading figures in the national team.

Her latest fitness programme, organised by 292 Performance, ran from June 8 to July 4 as part of her preparation for a demanding international schedule.

The captain has also remained involved in football development initiatives during the off-season, hosting coaching clinics and supporting grassroots players and coaches in Nigeria.

Ajibade made her Super Falcons debut in 2018 and won her first WAFCON title in the same year.

Since then, she has featured at three WAFCON tournaments, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and the 2024 Olympic Games, becoming an important leader within the national team setup.

Nigeria will begin their 2026 WAFCON campaign in Group C alongside Malawi, Zambia and Egypt. Coach Justine Madugu’s side will open their tournament against debutants Malawi in Rabat on July 28.

The 2026 WAFCON, scheduled to run from July 25 to August 16 in Morocco, will also determine qualification routes for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification, while the best-performing quarter-finalist will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs.

Also read: Roberto Martinez Quits Portugal After World Cup Exit

With Ajibade leading the squad, Nigeria will aim to extend their record on the continent while building momentum towards another major international campaign.

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Cubarsí Leads 2026 Golden Boy Race Ahead of Yamal

Published

2 hours ago

August 18, 2026

Mariam Balogun

Pau Cubarsí tops the current Golden Boy Award 2026 standings ahead of teammate Lamine Yamal and Real Madrid’s Yan Diomande

Barcelona defender Pau Cubarsí is currently leading the 2026 Golden Boy Award race, according to the latest standings released by Italian sports newspaper Tuttosport, with teammate Lamine Yamal in second and Yan Diomande third.

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Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on Tuesday that Cubarsí is currently ahead of the field as the voting process continues, with the final vote still expected later this year.

Yamal’s second-place position comes with an important caveat. The Barcelona forward cannot win the award again this year because he previously claimed the Golden Boy prize in 2024.

The 2026 race is still open, with Tuttosport continuing to update its rankings before the final voting stage.

The award is presented to the outstanding young player in European top-flight football and is decided by an international jury of sports journalists.

Cubarsí’s position reflects his growing reputation at Barcelona. The defender has become an increasingly important figure for the Spanish club and has already collected major honours during his young career.

Diomande’s presence in third also underlines the strength of this year’s field.

The Real Madrid youngster is among the 100 players initially shortlisted for the 2026 award, with the list due to be reduced to 20 finalists before the winner is selected.

The Golden Boy has a distinguished history, with previous winners including Lionel Messi, Wayne Rooney, Erling Haaland, Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham and Yamal.

Also read: Okocha Picks Messi Over Ronaldo as Football’s Better Player

For Cubarsí, however, the immediate task is to maintain his advantage. With the decisive voting still to come, the Barcelona defender has emerged as the early favourite, but the final outcome remains open.