WAFCON: Super Falcons face tricky Cameroon for 2027 World Cup ticket

The Super Falcons of Nigeria will battle Cameroon in a high-stakes 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-final in Casablanca on Sunday, with a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil on the line.

The defending champions will face their familiar rivals at Stade Larbi Zaouli, knowing that victory would secure Nigeria a place at next year’s global tournament and keep their title defence alive.

Read Also: Super Falcons crush Egypt 6–2 to book WAFCON quarter-Final clash with Cameroon

Falcons renew World Cup rivalry

The quarter-final will rekindle memories of the teams’ last meeting at this stage of the continental championship four years ago, when Nigeria edged Cameroon 1-0 to secure qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Rasheedat Ajibade scored the decisive second-half header to send the Falcons through in a tense encounter.

Nigeria have historically dominated their meetings with Cameroon at the WAFCON. The rivalry dates back to the inaugural 1998 edition hosted by Nigeria, when the Falcons thrashed the Lionesses 6-0 in Kaduna.

The two nations also contested the 2014 and 2016 finals, with Nigeria winning both encounters.

Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala scored in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Cameroon in Windhoek in 2014, while Oparanozie’s late goal secured a 1-0 triumph in Yaoundé two years later.

Nigeria hold recent advantage

The Falcons also defeated Cameroon during a two-match tour of Yaoundé earlier this year.

Cameroon claimed a rare 1-0 victory in the opening game, but Nigeria responded emphatically by winning the second encounter 3-1, with Chinwendu Ihezuo, Rinsola Babajide and Michelle Alozie finding the net.

Nigeria also recorded a 2-0 friendly victory over Cameroon at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta last year.

Super Falcons recover from Malawi shock

A strong response to an unexpected opening defeat has marked Nigeria’s route to the quarter-finals.

The Falcons suffered a 3-2 loss to Malawi in their first Group C match, with Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga scoring in a major tournament upset.

Justin Madugu’s side recovered with a narrow 1-0 victory over Zambia, Asisat Oshoala scoring the decisive goal, before producing their most impressive performance of the group stage in a 6-2 demolition of Egypt.

The result took Nigeria to six points and second place in Group C. Malawi finished top on the head-to-head tiebreaker after the two teams, along with Zambia, ended the group stage on six points.

Cameroon enter Sunday’s quarter-final unbeaten, but Nigeria’s pedigree in knockout football gives the defending champions confidence.

Madugu welcomes key reinforcements

Madugu could retain much of the team that dismantled Egypt, with Oshoala expected to remain central to Nigeria’s attacking plans.

The veteran forward scored the opener against Zambia and converted a penalty against Egypt. She also scored twice during Nigeria’s pre-tournament friendly victories over Senegal.

Nigeria will, however, welcome back defender Tosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini after both missed the Egypt game through suspension.

Madugu insists the team’s priorities remain unchanged

“Our objective remains picking the World Cup ticket and then going ahead to retain the trophy. Nothing has changed,” the coach said.

For Nigeria, the stakes could hardly be higher: defeat would end their hopes of retaining the continental crown, while victory would take them one step closer to another WAFCON title and secure their place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.