Super Falcons midfielder Jennifer Echegini is confident of an impressive outing with the Nigerian national team at the upcoming CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament scheduled to take place in Morocco, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
The 24-year-old who currently plies her trade with French women’s top-flight outfit Paris Saint Germain, is set to make her maiden appearance for the all-time continental record champions when the 12-team tournament starts on July 5 at the newly-built Olympic stadium in the capital city of Rabat.
Echegini has already featured for Nigeria at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, helping the team to reach the knockout rounds as well as the 2024 Olympic Games in the French capital city of Paris, where they suffered a group stage exit.
Echegini spoke to CAFOnline, “It’s very special. I’ve been in major international competitions, but I haven’t played in an WAFCON yet. This will be my first time, and I’m very excited. I watched the last edition two years ago and already thought: ‘One day, it’ll be my turn.’ Now that moment is here. It’s a different atmosphere, a different energy. Representing my country on the African continent is a huge honor. The Women’s AFCON is about history, culture, emotion. I can’t wait to live it from the inside.”
She added, “This tournament brings a different kind of intensity, a unique emotion, it’s our legacy. We live with it. The pressure has always been there. When you wear the Nigerian jersey, you know the expectations are sky-high. But that’s a good thing, really. It’s those standards that shape who we are. Nigeria has won this competition multiple times. As the new generation, it’s our duty to carry on that tradition. So yes, there’s pressure. But everyone, the fans, the staff, us – wants the same thing: victory. My role is to create, organize, and also score when I can. I want to be a constant support for my teammates across all areas of the pitch.”
Echegini enjoyed a stellar 2024/2025 campaign with PSG, featuring in 18 matches in the Division 1 Feminine and scoring seven goals plus recording four assists to help the capital city side finish runners-up behind eventual champions Olympique Lyon on 52 points.
She also played in two UEFA Women’s Champions League matches but did not register any goal contribution. In total, she played 20 games, scored seven goals and provided four assists across all competitions. She currently has 11 caps for Nigeria with two goals to her name.
The Super Falcons, who have been pitted in Group B alongside Tunisia, Botswana, and Algeria, will begin the mission of reclaiming their WAFCON title and a tenth continental crown with an opening clash against Tunisia on July 7, before taking on Botswana on July 14 and concluding the group phase with a fixture against Algeria on July 19.
