• Book q’finals spot against Cameroon

Ten-time champions Nigeria survived one of the most dramatic permutations in African football on Wednesday, advancing into the quarter-finals of the 2026 WAFCON courtesy of a tie-breaker after beating Egypt 6-2 in Rabat, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Having experienced a shaky start with one win and one defeat in their first two games, the Super Falcons’ destiny was not in their hands as debutants Malawi and Zambia also faced off in a potentially damaging fixture.

Egypt were destined for elimination before kick-off and all Nigeria needed against them was a win that would take them up to six points and keep them in contention for the tie-breaker, depending on the result of the game between Malawi and Zambia.

At the other venue in Rabat, Barbra Banda wasted no time in putting Zambia ahead against Malawi, but Justine Madugu’s team responded at the Olympic Stadium, taking the lead against Egypt courtesy of a penalty from Asisat Oshoala.

With the scoreline 1-0 at both venues, Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia were all on six points, with Malawi and the Super Falcons primed to progress after the tie-breakers of points, goal difference and goals scored in matches involving the three teams were applied.

As such, the three teams were tied on three points as well as having a zero goal difference each, considering the number of goals scored and conceded against one another.

In terms of goals scored, Malawi were on three, Nigeria on three and Zambia on one, meaning the Copper Queens risked elimination.

But Zambia soon turned the table around with their second goal, which took their goal difference to +1 and sent them straight to the top of the table, with Nigeria second on a zero goal difference and initial table-toppers Malawi risking elimination in third on -1 goal difference.

First-half substitute Gift Monday turned home Rinsola Babajide’s low cross to double Nigeria’s advantage against Egypt, but the North Africans weren’t going down without a fight, reducing the deficit from the spot just before half-time.

Although it wasn’t certain how much of the goals against Egypt would count, the Super Falcons restored their two-goal lead after the restart, with second-half substitute Uchenna Kanu getting on the scoresheet with her first touch.

Things changed again in the 72nd minute at the Al Madina Stadium after Tabitha Chawinga pulled one back for Malawi, taking them back to the top of the table with a goal difference of zero and four goals scored in matches involving the three teams.

Nigeria stayed second with a zero goal difference and three goals scored in games involving the three teams, while it meant that Zambia were third and on their way out, with a zero goal difference and two goals scored in games involving the three teams.

Christy Ucheibe added a fourth for Nigeria from the penalty spot in the 81st minute, while Egypt again pulled one back as Nadin Yasser Ezzat Ghazy got her brace.

As the referee reviewed a third penalty for Nigeria and the fourth of the game at the Olympic Stadium, the game between Zambia and Malawi ended 2-1 in favour of the Copper Queens, but they fell to the ground, knowing the result wasn’t enough to see them through.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade, meanwhile, dispatched the ball perfectly to make the scoreline 5-2 at the death.

Celebrations erupted among the Malawians at the Al Madina Stadium as the debutants advanced to the quarter-finals in their first-ever WAFCON appearance, boosting their chances of playing at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Back at the Olympic Stadium, another substitute, Joy Omewa, rounded off the scoring with a tap-in to make it 6-2 for Nigeria, as the Super Falcons played another eight minutes of additional time before they realised their fate; the 10-time champions marched on to the last eight after a shaky start and will face the winners of Group D, most likely Cameroon, on Sunday.