Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has rewarded Edo Queens with N50m after the club won the 2025/26 Nigeria Women‘s Football League (NWFL) title and successfully defended its WAFU-B CAF Women’s Champions League qualifying title in Burkina Faso, Made In Africa Sport reports.

The champions returned to Benin on Tuesday to a hero’s welcome, with government officials, sports administrators, stakeholders, supporters and fans turning out at the Benin Airport to celebrate their latest continental success.

The team was then taken on a victory parade from the airport through Airport Road to Osadebey Avenue, where Governor Okpebholo received the players and officials amid cheers from supporters.

Edo Queens defeated Ghanaian champions Ampem Darkoa Ladies in a dramatic final in Ouagadougou to retain the WAFU-B title and earn a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League in South Africa.

The victory completed a remarkable domestic and continental campaign for the Nigerian champions, who had earlier won the NWFL Super Six to qualify for the WAFU-B tournament.

Enabulele praises Edo Queens players, coaches and government support

Speaking at the reception, Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission Desmond Enabulele described the back-to-back successes as another landmark in the state’s sporting resurgence.

Enabulele said the NWFL Super Six victory gave Edo Queens the opportunity to represent Nigeria in the WAFU-B qualifiers, where they successfully defended the title they previously won.

He attributed the team’s achievements to the commitment of the players, coaches and management, alongside sustained financial backing from the Edo State Government.

The sports commission chairman specifically praised Okpebholo for releasing funds promptly for sporting programmes, saying adequate financing remained central to the development of sports.

Enabulele singled out Atume Doosuur, Esther Chioma Moses, Oluwakemi Adegbuyi and assistant captain Valentina Uroko for their performances during the campaign.

He also praised head coach Moses Aduku, describing him as one of the finest female football coaches in Nigeria.

Aduku was unavailable for the WAFU-B tournament because he was on national duty with the Falconets, prompting Edo Queens to bring in Bendel Insurance head coach Kennedy Boboye.

Enabulele thanked Boboye for accepting the assignment and guiding the team to another continental triumph.

The sports commission chairman also acknowledged the contribution of Edo APC chairman Jarrett Tenebe, who supported the team during the NWFL Super Six in Port Harcourt and later travelled to Burkina Faso for the WAFU-B campaign.

Enabulele said Tenebe’s contribution deserved recognition regardless of political considerations.

“This is not about politics. It is about showing sincere gratitude to a deserving person, irrespective of class or status,” he said, as quoted by Daily Times Anchor.

Governor recalls tense Ghana final

Okpebholo praised the players for their fighting spirit and said he had remained confident that Edo Queens would overcome Ampem Darkoa despite the tension surrounding the final.

The governor said an earlier victory over the Ghanaian side in the tournament could have produced a different outcome in the final, but he trusted the players to rise to the occasion when it mattered most.

“If you had won the first match against Ampem Darkoa Ladies of Ghana, they would have defeated you in the finals,” he said.

Okpebholo said he believed the team would make Edo proud because of the importance of the trophy to the state.

“I was very confident that our girls would make us proud, as this cup means a lot to our people,” he said.

The governor also recalled the decisive penalty shootout in the final, particularly praising the goalkeeper for anticipating the Ghanaian player’s effort and making the crucial save.

“That brilliant save gave us the energy and confidence we needed,” Okpebholo said.

He said the save changed the momentum of the shootout, adding that he could see the Ghanaian players beginning to lose confidence.

“At that point, I knew we had the advantage,” he said.

Okpebholo promised that his administration would continue to support the team and create opportunities for the players to develop.

“As a government, we will continue to support and reward the team and create more opportunities for them to excel,” he said.

The governor subsequently announced the ₦50m cash reward for the WAFU-B champions.

Edo’s growing presence in national teams

Enabulele also used the reception to highlight the growing presence of Edo athletes in Nigeria’s national teams.

He disclosed that six Edo players are currently part of the Falconets squad representing Nigeria at the FIFA Women’s Under-20 World Cup in Poland.

Seven Edo players are also members of Nigeria’s Under-19 girls’ cricket team that qualified for the World Cup, with an Edo player serving as captain.

According to Enabulele, preparations for the cricket World Cup are being conducted at the Edo High Performance Centre.

The developments, he said, reflected the state’s growing contribution to national sports beyond football.

Edo Queens will now turn their attention to the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League in South Africa, where they will compete against some of Africa’s leading women’s clubs.

Having claimed the NWFL title and retained their WAFU-B crown, the Nigerian champions will be seeking another strong continental campaign when the Champions League begins.

The post Governor Okpebholo rewards Edo Queens with N50m after NWFL, WAFU B triumph appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

1. U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup Preparation and Falconets Arrival

The Nigeria U-20 women’s national team, famously known as the Falconets, arrived in Poland on August 25, 2026. This arrival signals the start of their final preparations for the highly anticipated U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Led by newly appointed head coach Moses Aduku, the squad successfully finished an intensive training camp in Abuja before travelling to their tournament base at the Hotel Trzebnica.

The prestigious global competition is scheduled to run from September 5 to September 27, 2026, serving as a vital stage for young footballing talent to showcase their skills on the world map.

Visa Issues Impact Squad Travel

The team’s journey to Poland encountered significant and unexpected logistical obstacles that complicated their travel plans. The delegation initially hoped to depart Abuja last Thursday, yet administrative hurdles regarding necessary travel documentation caused a unavoidable delay.

The Nigeria Football Federation is currently working to resolve specific visa issues affecting team captain Joy Igbokwe and teammates Sandra John and Faridat Abdulwahab. These three players remain at risk of missing the tournament unless their travel authorizations are finalized promptly. This administrative challenge required the entire group to reschedule their flight to ensure the majority of the squad could settle in Poland and begin training.

Tournament Context and Group F Opponents

Nigeria is placed in Group F, where they are set to compete against stiff opposition in Spain, China PR, and New Caledonia. The opening match for the Falconets is scheduled for September 7 at the Arena Sosnowiec, with a kick-off time set for 5:00 pm.

Nigeria carries a historic reputation into the U20 FIFA Women’s World Cup, as they remain one of only three nations-alongside Germany and the United States-to have qualified for every single edition of the tournament since its inaugural event in 2002. This remarkable consistency underscores the country’s ongoing commitment and long-term development in the women’s game.

Building on Past Success

The Falconets have tasted notable success on the international stage, having finished twice as runners-up in the history of the competition, specifically in 2010 and 2014. Under the guidance of Coach Aduku, the primary objective is to finally secure the elusive world title. To sharpen their readiness, the team has arranged test friendlies against the tournament hosts, Poland, and South Korea before the official competition begins.

These matches are crucial for testing the tactical discipline and squad cohesion that the coaching staff has emphasized during the training period. Such high-level preparation is necessary to ensure the players are fully adapted to European conditions.

The Road to Qualification

Nigeria secured their spot at the biennial global tournament following a challenging and competitive qualifying campaign. The team demonstrated their superior strength by defeating Rwanda with a 5-0 aggregate score, overcoming Senegal 3-1, and sealing their place with a 3-2 aggregate victory against Malawi.

Following these successes, the squad embarked on an intensive final phase of preparation in the capital, focusing heavily on physical fitness and mental readiness. The players aim to leverage this extensive preparation to perform consistently throughout the group stages and beyond as they represent the nation on this global platform in the coming weeks.

Ambitions and Team Leadership

Head Coach Moses Aduku has expressed significant confidence in the group’s potential, noting that the players are physically and mentally prepared to compete at the highest international level. Aduku maintains that the team is travelling to Poland with a strong winning mentality, fully focused on the ambition of challenging for the trophy.

Despite these ambitious goals, the final squad list is yet to be officially named with less than two weeks remaining until the tournament kick-off. Captain Joy Igbokwe has issued a message of determination to the Nigerian public, appealing for continued support as the team strives to achieve glory and make the nation proud.

The post Falconets Hit With Visa Setback Upon Arrival in Poland appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.

Malawi historic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup has become one of the defining stories of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, with the Scorchers’ remarkable campaign challenging the traditional hierarchy of African women’s football.

Entering the tournament as debutants and ranked 153rd in the world, Malawi were drawn into Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt and 10-time African champions Nigeria. Few would have expected the Scorchers to emerge as one of the tournament’s biggest stories.

They announced their arrival in emphatic fashion in their opening match, defeating Nigeria 3-2 to immediately establish themselves as serious contenders.

The victory provided Malawi with the confidence to navigate the group stage successfully, as they finished top of Group C and advanced to the quarter-finals.

Their momentum continued in the knockout stages when the Scorchers defeated Ghana‘s Black Queens 2-1 in the quarter-finals. The victory secured their place in the semi-finals and, more importantly, guaranteed Malawi a historic place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

It was the first World Cup qualification in the history of Malawi’s senior women’s national team and the highest achievement yet for the country’s women’s football programme.

Malawi Challenging Africa’s established order

Malawi’s rise represents more than an individual success story.

For years, African women’s football has largely been dominated by established powers such as Nigeria, South Africa and Cameroon. Their consistency at continental competitions helped create a hierarchy in which emerging nations often struggled to challenge the traditional heavyweights.

That landscape, however, is changing.

The emergence of Ghana, Zambia, Morocco, Algeria and now Malawi has demonstrated the increasing competitiveness of the women’s game across the continent.

Malawi’s journey is particularly significant because the Scorchers did not simply participate in their first WAFCON. They competed against experienced opposition, defeated one of Africa’s most successful teams and progressed all the way to the final.

Although Cameroon eventually defeated Malawi in the final, the Scorchers had already achieved something historic by reaching the championship match and securing their World Cup ticket.

Chawinga sisters bring global attention

The Scorchers’ success has also provided greater visibility for Malawi’s players, particularly the Chawinga sisters.

Captain Tabitha Chawinga, who plays for Lyon Women in France, has become one of the most recognisable figures in Malawi’s team, while her sister Temwa Chawinga, a Kansas City player, has also established herself as a prominent name in the women’s game.

Their careers have provided young African players with visible examples of what can be achieved at the highest level.

The Chawinga sisters have also helped draw greater international attention to Malawi’s football story, giving the Scorchers faces and personalities that supporters around the world can connect with.

What the World Cup means for Malawi

Malawi’s qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup gives the country an opportunity to take its recent progress beyond the African stage.

The World Cup will expose the Scorchers to some of the leading women’s national teams in the world while providing their players with an opportunity to compete at the highest level of international football.

It could also create greater visibility for women’s football in Malawi and provide momentum for further investment in the development of the game.

For African women’s football more broadly, Malawi’s rise offers another indication that the gap between the continent’s traditional powers and emerging nations is becoming increasingly narrow.

The Scorchers entered WAFCON as newcomers.

They leave as finalists, World Cup qualifiers and one of the biggest success stories of the tournament.

Their journey has shown that African women’s football is no longer defined solely by its traditional giants. The next generation of challengers is already here and Malawi have shown just how far they can go.

The post Malawi World Cup qualification signals new era for African women’s football appeared first on Made In Africa Sport.