By Dorcas Francis Koji
Nigeria’s Super Falcons overcame a nerve-racking final day in Group C to book their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after thrashing Egypt 6-2 in Rabat on Wednesday.
The 10-time African champions entered the decisive fixture with their qualification hopes hanging in the balance following a disappointing start to the tournament, having suffered a shock defeat to Malawi before edging Zambia in their second outing.
With Malawi and Zambia also locked in a crucial encounter at the Al Madina Stadium, Nigeria needed victory over Egypt and a favourable outcome elsewhere to keep their title defence alive.
As expected, the final round of Group C fixtures produced one of the most dramatic qualification battles in WAFCON history.
Zambia struck first against Malawi through captain Barbra Banda, while Nigeria also made the breakthrough when Asisat Oshoala calmly converted from the penalty spot against Egypt.
At that stage, all three teams were level on six points, forcing qualification to be determined by the competition’s head-to-head tiebreakers.
Initially, Nigeria and Malawi occupied the qualification spots after the mini-table among the three tied teams was calculated, leaving Zambia facing elimination despite their advantage.
However, the complexion of the group changed once again when Zambia doubled their lead over Malawi, briefly sending the Copper Queens to the top of the standings while Nigeria moved into second place.
The Super Falcons, meanwhile, tightened their grip on the contest when Gift Monday finished off a low cross from Rinsola Babajide to double Nigeria’s advantage before the break.
Egypt responded from the penalty spot to reduce the deficit, but Nigeria remained firmly in control.
Justine Madugu’s side emerged from the interval with renewed purpose as substitute Uchenna Kanu scored almost immediately after coming on to restore the two-goal cushion.
The drama intensified when Tabitha Chawinga pulled one back for Malawi against Zambia, a goal that once again reshuffled the live standings and temporarily pushed Malawi back to the summit of Group C.
Nigeria refused to lose focus.. Christy Ucheibe converted another penalty to make it 4-1 before Egypt grabbed a second through Nadin Yasser Ezzat Ghazy, who completed her brace.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade then calmly converted Nigeria’s third penalty of the evening after a lengthy VAR review to stretch the lead to 5-2.
With Zambia eventually defeating Malawi 2-1 in the simultaneous fixture, all eyes turned to the final standings as officials applied the head-to-head criteria among the three teams.
Joy Omewa completed the rout deep into stoppage time, tapping home Nigeria’s sixth goal as the Super Falcons wrapped up an emphatic victory.
After an anxious wait during an extended period of added time, confirmation finally arrived that Nigeria had progressed to the quarter-finals, surviving one of the closest qualification races in the tournament’s history.
Malawi also secured a historic place in the last eight on their WAFCON debut, while Zambia’s victory ultimately proved insufficient to keep them in the competition.
The Super Falcons will now turn their attention to Sunday’s quarter-final clash, where they are expected to face Group D winners Cameroon as they continue their pursuit of a record-extending 11th African title.
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