FC Robo stars join Nigeria for Cameroon friendly

Two FC Robo players, Esther Onyenezide and Favour Nkwocha, have joined the Super Falcons camp in Yaoundé ahead of Nigeria’s two-legged friendly against Cameroon, PUNCH Sports Extra reports. Both players were among the first set of 11 players who arrived in camp on Wednesday and also took part in the first training session. Onyenezide last featured for the Super Falcons during a two-legged friendly against Algeria in 2024, while Nkwocha has been part of the national U-20 women’s team setup. She scored an Olympic goal for the Falconets in their 3-1 win over Ghana at the WAFU-B Championship last November. Nigeria will face Cameroon in two international friendlies as part of preparations for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, slated for Morocco next month. The Cameroon duel was set up following the cancellation of a proposed four-nation tournament that was to feature Nigeria, Benin, Senegal and hosts Ivory Coast. The Super Falcons and the Indomitable Lionesses will clash in the Cameroonian capital on Saturday, February 28, and then again on Tuesday, March 3. Both sides previously met in a preparatory friendly ahead of last year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with Nigeria securing a 2-0 victory at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta. After this window, the Falcons are expected to regroup for the WAFCON next month with the hope of defending their title. The Confederation of African Football has confirmed that the 13th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will be held in the Kingdom of Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026. All four semi-finalists will qualify directly for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. Nigeria are the most successful side in the history of the competition, having won a record 10 titles, including their most recent triumph in Morocco last summer, where they defeated Tunisia, Botswana, Zambia, South Africa and the hosts en route to the trophy. With the continental tournament also serving as a pathway to the 2027 Women’s World Cup, the upcoming friendlies against Cameroon are expected to restore competitive rhythm and offer head coach Justine Madugu and the players a timely opportunity to rebuild cohesion ahead of their title defence in Morocco.