The 2026 Women’s Africa cup of Nations, WAFCON 2026 is jeering towards the knock out stages with the teams slugging it for a spot for the 2027 FIFA Women’s world Cup. The Super Falcons are doomed to face one of their arch rivals in Cameroon or Ghana in the quarter-finals.
Having started their campaign with a shocking 3-2 loss to Malawi and picked their first win in a hard fought 1-0 victory over Zambia, the 10 times champions and current holders are doomed to face their long lasting rivals in the quarter-finals.
With the last group game for the Super Falcons against already eliminated and rock bottom Egypt, the Nigerians only need a win to ensure the qualification into the knock out stages and stage a chance of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
While Zambia and Malawi slug it out to find who qualifies or tops the group, Malawi have the advantage to finish group winners with 2 wins already and only need a draw to seal their spot. Zambia on the other hand need to win to stand a chance. In a case where all three teams finish on 6 points each, the head to head rule will be used to adjudge firstly which Nigeria has a good advantage over Zambia having defeated them.
The knockout opponents for the trio are from Group C which have Cameroon, Ghana and Mali. The Indomitable Lionesses top the group with 2 wins for them. Ghana and Mali face each other to decide who takes the second spot on the last day.
This makes it inevitable for Nigeria even if they finish top of their group to not face an arch rival after the group stages. A West African derby is on the plate either ways.
The Super Falcons round off their WAFCON 2026 group stage fixture with a final game against Egypt. Tosin Demehin and Jennifer Echegini will both miss the final fixture. Tosin was handed a straight red against Zambia after she was adjudged to obstructed Barbra Banda a goal scoring opportunity while Jennifer received two yellows in consecutive games.