Super Falcons battle unbeaten Indomitable Lionesses in Casablanca for a place in the semi-finals and an automatic 2027 Women’s World Cup ticket.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria will renew their fierce rivalry with Cameroon on Sunday when both African women’s football giants clash in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Casablanca.
The blockbuster encounter will be played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, with the winner securing a place in the semi-finals and an automatic ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria reached the last eight after a difficult Group C campaign that saw the defending champions suffer a shock 3-2 defeat to debutants Malawi before recovering with a narrow win over Zambia.
The Super Falcons finished second in the group on six points, edging Zambia on goals scored after both teams recorded two victories and a defeat.
Coach Justine Madugu’s side had earlier opened their campaign with a convincing 6-2 victory over Egypt, with six different players finding the net in the emphatic win.
Despite scoring nine goals in three group matches — the highest tally in the group stage — Nigeria’s defensive frailties remain a concern after conceding five goals.
Cameroon, meanwhile, enter the quarter-final unbeaten after topping Group D with seven points.
The Indomitable Lionesses defeated Mali and Ghana before playing out a 1-1 draw with debutants Cape Verde in their final group match.
Cameroon have also been defensively solid, conceding just two goals in three matches. Marie Manga, who has scored three goals in the tournament, will be one of the major threats Nigeria must contain.
The Super Falcons, however, will be boosted by the return of defender Tosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini from suspension. Six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala is also available after recovering from the injury that forced her out against Egypt.
The quarter-final presents Cameroon with an opportunity to re-establish themselves among Africa’s elite after missing the previous WAFCON, while Nigeria will be determined to maintain their status as the continent’s most successful women’s football nation with 10 titles.
Nigeria Hold Historical Advantage
Nigeria have enjoyed the upper hand in their long-running WAFCON rivalry with Cameroon.
The two sides have met 13 times at the tournament, with the Super Falcons winning nine matches in regulation time, while Cameroon have recorded one victory. One encounter ended in a draw without a penalty shootout.
Their most recent WAFCON meeting came in 2022, when Nigeria defeated Cameroon 1-0 through a Rasheedat Ajibade goal to advance to the semi-finals.
Sunday’s encounter therefore promises another intense chapter in one of African women’s football’s biggest rivalries, with a semi-final place and a World Cup ticket at stake.