By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigeria’s Super Falcons will battle Egypt in a decisive Group B clash at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Tuesday, knowing victory is essential to keep their quarter-final hopes alive.
The ten-time African champions bounced back from a shock 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia, leaving their qualification hopes hanging on the final round of group matches.
Malawi lead the group with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia are tied on three points each. Egypt are bottom without a point after defeats to Zambia and Malawi.
For Nigeria, the first task is straightforward: beat Egypt.
If Malawi either defeat or draw with Zambia, a Nigerian victory will automatically send the Super Falcons into the knockout stage.
However, the permutations become more complicated if Zambia beat Malawi. Such a result would leave Malawi, Zambia and Nigeria level on six points, with qualification then decided by CAF’s tie-breaking criteria.
Nigeria could be at risk if Zambia record a high-scoring victory over Malawi, as goals scored in the head-to-head matches among the tied teams would come into play.
For instance, if Zambia edge Malawi 3-2, Nigeria would need to beat Egypt by at least three goals to remain in contention, while a six-goal victory would be enough to finish top of the group.
The safest route for the Super Falcons remains a win over Egypt combined with Malawi avoiding defeat against Zambia.
Meanwhile, head coach Justine Madugu will be without two key players for the crucial encounter. Defender Tosin Demehin is suspended after her red card against Zambia, while midfielder Jennifer Echegini will also miss the match after accumulating two yellow cards during the tournament.
Super Falcon’s hope in the next women world cup is tied to the successful outcome of this WAFCON campaign.
Despite the setbacks, Nigeria remain in control of their destiny and know that a victory, alongside a favourable result in the other group fixture, will secure a place in the WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals.
