Author: Tumininu Yussuf

For Ruth Usoro, the silver medal hanging around her neck in Glasgow represents far more than a place on the podium. It is the reward for months of perseverance, weeks of uncertainty and days spent battling illness.

Nigeria’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title defence was hanging by a thread. One defeat had already shaken the continent. Another could have pushed the Super Falcons to the brink of an unimaginable group-stage exit.

Long before the first barbell was lifted at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation (NWF) had already drawn up an ambitious target: surpass the country’s medal haul from Birmingham 2022.

For nearly an hour, Nigeria’s Super Falcons Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title defence hung by the thinnest of threads.

The script had already been written; or so everyone thought. Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Africa’s most decorated women’s national team and defending champions, arrived in Rabat expected to begin another march toward an 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown.

With the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations underway in Morocco, Super Falcons midfielder, Christy Ucheibe has delivered a powerful message to the rest of Africa.

As Nigeria’s Super Falcons prepare to launch another quest for continental glory against tournament debutants Malawi, Asisat Oshoala has made one thing crystal clear.

For years, she has battled opponents on football pitches across Africa and beyond. But according to Nigeria international Ngozi Okobi-Okeoghene, some of the toughest battles female footballers face are not on the field.

The champions are back. After conquering Africa once again with a breathtaking comeback victory over hosts Morocco last year, Nigeria’s Super Falcons are ready to begin another journey toward continental glory.

When Spain captain Rodri lifted the FIFA World Cup trophy into the New Jersey sky, the celebrations marked more than the crowning of a new world champion.