Nigeria’s Super Falcons will face Cameroon in a decisive 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Sunday at Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, with a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil at stake.
The defending champions enter the knockout stage knowing victory would secure World Cup qualification and keep their title defence intact. The match renews a continental rivalry that has historically favoured Nigeria, who edged Cameroon 1-0 at the same stage four years ago to reach the 2023 World Cup. Rasheedat Ajibade’s second-half header settled that encounter in Morocco.
Nigeria’s dominance in the fixture extends across decades. The Falcons thrashed Cameroon 6-0 in the inaugural 1998 tournament hosted in Kaduna, then claimed both the 2014 and 2016 finals. Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala scored in a 2-0 win in Windhoek, before Oparanozie’s late goal secured a 1-0 victory in Yaoundé.
Recent form also favours Nigeria. During a two-match tour of Yaoundé earlier this year, Cameroon won the opener 1-0 but Nigeria responded with a 3-1 victory, with Chinwendu Ihezuo, Rinsola Babajide and Michelle Alozie on target. A 2-0 friendly win at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta last year further strengthened Nigeria’s psychological edge.
The Falcons’ path to the quarter-finals has been marked by resilience. A shock 3-2 opening defeat to Malawi, inspired by Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, forced a response. Justin Madugu’s side recovered with a narrow 1-0 win over Zambia, Oshoala scoring the decisive goal, before demolishing Egypt 6-2 in their most complete performance. The result left Nigeria second in Group C on six points, behind Malawi on head-to-head tiebreakers after three teams finished level.
Cameroon arrive unbeaten, but Nigeria’s knockout pedigree provides confidence. Madugu is expected to retain the core that dismantled Egypt, with Oshoala central to attacking plans. The veteran forward scored against Zambia, converted a penalty versus Egypt, and netted twice in pre-tournament friendlies against Senegal.
Defender Tosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini return after serving suspensions, bolstering a squad that has navigated early adversity.
“Our objective remains picking the World Cup ticket and then going ahead to retain the trophy. Nothing has changed,” Madugu said.
For Nigeria, the stakes are unambiguous: defeat ends their continental reign, while victory moves them closer to a third consecutive WAFCON title and secures a Brazilian World Cup berth.
