Nigeria arrived in Morocco for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) carrying a familiar burden of expectation.

Having claimed a record-extending 10th title in the North African kingdom last July – a campaign dubbed “Mission X” – the Super Falcons remain the benchmark in African women’s football.

The challenge now is to retain their crown, something they last managed in 2018, the culmination of a hat-trick of titles.

“Now that we are champions, every other team will want to draw you down,” head coach Justin Madugu, who masterminded last year’s title charge which concluded in a 3-2 victory over the hosts, told BBC Sport Africa

“It’s not going to be easy. We are quite aware of that and we are going to be fully ready.”

Nigeria begin against debutants Malawi on Tuesday before also facing Zambia and Egypt in Group C.

“Every country wants to beat Nigeria,” said assistant coach Ann Chiejine, a four-time Wafcon winner as a player.

“That is why we must up our game by making sure we train harder.”

The squad contains some of the most recognisable names in African football.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, named best player at last year’s tournament, Chiamaka Nnadozie, the current African goalkeeper of the year, and six-time African player of the year Asisat Oshoala will provide experience and leadership.

But Madugu has also chosen to weave in a number of young players, including striker Joy Omewa, who plays her club football in Sweden and observed last year’s Wafcon triumph from afar.

“The last one was really exciting to watch. All the games were really good.

“I think this year it’s going to be even bigger.”

Nigeria are one of only three nations to lift the Wafcon trophy.

Their dominance is such that they have claimed 10 of the 13 titles dating back to 1998, with only Equatorial Guinea (2008 and 2012) and South Africa (2022) able to break their stranglehold.

This time around they face greater competition, if only by weight of numbers after the tournament was expanded from 12 to 16 teams.

There is also more at stake because Wafcon doubles as a qualifying competition for next year’s Fifa Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists all guaranteed a place in Brazil.

“Our first target is to qualify for the World Cup. After that we can think of defending our title,” winger Francisca Ordega told BBC Sport Africa.

“We are not under any kind of pressure. We can hold our own against any team across Africa.”

Nigeria have represented the continent at all nine World Cups since the first was held in China in 1991.

In 2023, a record four nations travelled to Australia and New Zealand, with the West Africans being joined by South Africa and debutants Morocco and Zambia.

“We have come of age,” said Cheijine when discussing improvements in the African game.

“If we are now being beaten by penalty shootout, or 1-0, 2-0, it means that the graph is rising.”

In Morocco, Cape Verde and Malawi are the two countries making their maiden Wafcon appearances.

Malawi may be ranked 153rd in the world, compared to Nigeria in 36th, but the Scorchers boast a fearsome attack with proven pedigree in the form of the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa.

Older sister Tabitha scored the goals which fired Lyon to a fifth consecutive league title in France last season.

Temwa, meanwhile, has won the National Women’s Soccer League golden boot and MVP awards in both of her two full seasons with Kansas City Current.

Nigeria will also have to be on their guard against Zambia’s experienced strike duo Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, both of whom also play in the USA.

“You don’t want to undermine or underestimate what anybody can do, Madugu said on the eve of the team’s opening fixture, with Ajibade cautioning that Malawi’s qualification shows “the progress they’re making”.

While previous Wafcons have seen Nigeria’s preparation time limited, Madugu and his staff have had the luxury of multiple friendlies to run the rule over the current squad.

A double-header against Cameroon in the early months of the year was followed by two warm-up matches against Senegal in June and a victory over Tanzania last week.

Twenty-one-year-old goalkeeper Comfort Erhabor, the backup to Nnadozie, is among the fresh faces brought in by Madugu.

Born in the Netherlands and raised in England, she made her debut against Cameroon.

“The trust he [Madugu] puts in us young players is something I respect a lot,” she said.

“I didn’t expect to get along so quickly and so well with the team. But they received me with open arms.”

Erhabor currently plays in the third tier of English football for Portsmouth, a city just over an hour’s drive along the south coast to Brighton, which is where Nnadozie plies her trade.

Describing Nigeria’s number one as like “a big sister” who she hangs out with, she says it was a “no brainer” when it came to choosing her international allegiance.

“It’s in my blood, so I felt like there is no greater honour than to represent my roots, make my parents proud as well.

“I love the culture, and one big thing for me was how open everyone here is with Christianity and religion, because I felt that would allow me to come into the team, faith-based, and express myself.”

As Madugu searches for a heavenly blend of youth and experience, Omewa describes the stellar names she now trains alongside as “golden”, as opposed to older.

“Without them we wouldn’t be here today.

“With them coming into the team, teaching us how to do it, we learn from those people.”

Fellow striker Oshoala, who is chasing her fifth Wafcon title, is one of those Omewa is thankful to.

“She’s a really remarkable person. She’s a person who you can talk to, share experiences with and she tells you things she has gone through.

“I think she’s a really good mentor.”

Nigeria do not have all of their stars available, with centre-back Ashleigh Plumptre, a central figure in last year’s Wafcon campaign, out with a foot injury.

The squad has also been unsettled after falling victim to thefts after landing in Morocco, with forward Esther Okoronkwo, player of the match in last year’s final, reportedly losing hundreds of dollars.

When it comes to prize money, the pot for this year’s tournament has been doubled, with the winners picking up $2m (£1.5m) – an increase indicative of the continued growth in African women’s football.

But despite the increasing level of competition, Nigeria remain the team to beat.