THE Super Falcons have crashed out of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after suffering a 1-0 defeat to rivals Cameroon in their quarter-final encounter on Sunday.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the defeat also means Nigeria have lost their automatic ticket to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil and must now rely on the play-offs to keep their hopes of qualifying for the tournament alive.
Myriam Nyadjou scored the decisive goal as Cameroon stunned the defending champions with a 1-0 victory in Casablanca, sending the Indomitable Lionesses into the semi-finals.
The 19-year-old midfielder broke the deadlock after 19 minutes, unleashing a rising free-kick that flew beyond the outstretched hands of Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and nestled into the corner of the net.
It was Nyadjou’s first goal of the tournament, but it proved enough to send Cameroon through to a semi-final showdown with hosts Morocco in Rabat on Wednesday, while also securing the Cameroonians a ticket to the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria, the record 10-time WAFCON champions, pushed desperately for an equaliser as the match entered its closing stages, but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely Bihina repeatedly stood between the Super Falcons and a way back into the contest with a series of acrobatic saves.
The closest Nigeria came to restoring parity arrived in the third minute of added time when Esther Okoronkwo raced onto possession after beating Bihina to the ball. However, her effort trickled narrowly wide of the far post.
Moments before that missed opportunity, Nigeria had introduced six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala, who had not been sufficiently fit to make the starting line-up.
The Saudi-based striker, however, was unable to produce the decisive intervention Nigeria needed, as Cameroon held on comfortably during the final minutes to secure only their second victory over the Super Falcons in 14 WAFCON meetings.
When the Namibian referee finally signalled full-time, Cameroon’s substitutes and coaching staff rushed onto the pitch in celebration, embracing the Indomitable Lionesses after their memorable victory over the defending champions.
Cameroon will now face hosts Morocco in the semi-final on Wednesday in Rabat, while the other quarter-final will see debutants and giant killers Malawi take on three-time runners-up Ghana. The winner of that encounter will face Algeria in the other semi-final.
For Nigeria, however, the defeat has created a major setback in their quest for another appearance at the Women’s World Cup.
Should the Super Falcons fail to secure qualification through the play-offs, it would mark the first time Nigeria have missed the Women’s World Cup since the competition was inaugurated in 1991.
The Super Falcons had reached the Round of 16 at the last World Cup in Australia, where they were eliminated by England following a penalty shootout.
Nigeria had also defeated Cameroon to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, but their latest defeat to their long-standing rivals has now ended their WAFCON title defence and denied them an automatic route to the 2027 global showpiece.