NIGERIA’s Super Falcons have qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after overcoming a difficult start to their campaign, setting up a mouth-watering clash against long-time rivals Cameroon.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the Super Falcons secured their place in the last eight with an emphatic 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final Group C match on Wednesday, finishing second behind Malawi following a dramatic conclusion to the group-stage fixtures.
Half of Nigeria’s six goals came from the penalty spot, with record six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year, Asisat Oshoala, Christy Ucheibe and Rasheedat Ajibade all converting from 12 yards.
Gift Monday, Uchenna Kanu and Joy Omewa also found the back of the net for the Super Falcons, who went into the half-time break with a 2-1 advantage.
Egypt’s Nadin Ghazy scored both goals for the North Africans, including one from the penalty spot, but the Cleopatras finished the group stage without a point after losing all three matches.
Nigeria, Zambia and Malawi all ended the group stage with six points from three matches. However, under the Confederation of African Football (CAF) competition rules, overall goal difference was not used to separate the three teams.
Instead, the standings were determined using the head-to-head results among the three tied teams. As a result, Zambia dropped to third place despite winning two matches and finishing with six points.
In the other decisive Group C fixture, leading 2026 WAFCON scorer Barbra Banda gave Zambia the perfect start by scoring after just two minutes, while Prisca Chilufya doubled the lead before half-time.
However, Tabitha Chawinga’s 72nd-minute goal for Malawi proved decisive, lifting the southern African nation to the top of the group despite trailing in the match.
Cameroon had already secured qualification for the knockout stage as Group D leaders after victories over Ghana and Mali, and will round off their group campaign against Cabo Verde.
Nigeria will now face Cameroon in the quarter-finals on Sunday in a high-profile encounter that rekindles one of African women’s football’s fiercest rivalries.
The winner of the clash will secure an automatic qualification ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Malawi, the lowest-ranked of the 16 teams that qualified for the tournament, finished top of Group C and will face either Ghana or Mali in the quarter-finals for a place in the semi-finals and another ticket to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Elsewhere in the quarter-final fixtures, hosts Morocco will take on South Africa, while Côte d’Ivoire will face Algeria on Saturday.