Ordega, Ohale eye historic sixth WAFCON title with Super Falcons
Nigerian veterans Francisca Ordega and Osinachi Ohale are on the verge of making history as Nigeria begins the defence of its Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title in Morocco.
Victory for the Super Falcons would see the experienced duo become the most decorated players in the competition's history, with an unprecedented six WAFCON titles to their names.
Ordega and Ohale currently share the all-time record of five titles with Nigerian legends Florence Ajayi and Perpetua Nkwocha, having lifted the trophy in 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and the delayed 2024 edition, which was played last year.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has identified the pair as two of the players capable of rewriting the tournament's record books during the 14th edition of the continental showpiece.
Both players earned places in head coach Justine Madugu's 25-player squad, giving them another opportunity to add to careers that have spanned well over a decade with the Super Falcons.
Ohale remains one of Africa's most dependable and experienced defenders, while Ordega returns to the national team looking to make another significant contribution after spending time away from the squad.
Their remarkable WAFCON journey began in South Africa in 2010, before they helped Nigeria dominate the continent with further triumphs in 2014, 2016 and 2018. They also played key roles in the Super Falcons' dramatic 3-2 comeback victory over hosts Morocco in the 2024 final, a result that secured Nigeria's record-extending 10th continental title.
Now, the defending champions have their sights firmly set on an 11th crown and a fifth successful title defence.
Nigeria opens its Group C campaign against tournament debutants Malawi on July 28 before taking on Zambia on August 1 and Egypt on August 5, with all three matches scheduled to be played in Rabat.
The top two teams in the group will progress to the quarter-finals, while a place in the last four will guarantee qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. The WAFCON final is scheduled for August 16 in Rabat.
Beyond Ordega and Ohale's quest for history, several other tournament records could also fall in Morocco.
Cameroon captain Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné is in line to become the first player to feature in eight WAFCON tournaments, surpassing former Super Falcons captain Onome Ebi's record of seven appearances.
Perpetua Nkwocha's long-standing record of 11 goals in a single edition, set in 2010, could also come under threat, while Tunisia's Mariem Houij remains the holder of the fastest goal in tournament history after scoring just 17 seconds into a match against Togo in 2022.
With WAFCON expanding from 12 to 16 teams, the overall goals record is also expected to be challenged, with more matches providing greater opportunities to eclipse the 66 goals scored at the previous edition.
For Ordega and Ohale, however, the mission is simple, help Nigeria retain the trophy and stand alone as the most successful players in WAFCON history.
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