RABAT, MOROCCO — The Super Falcons of Nigeria delivered an explosive attacking performance on Wednesday night at the Stade Moulay Hassan, crushing Egypt 6–2 in their final Group C fixture to secure qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Following a challenging start to the tournament—which saw Nigeria fall 3–2 to Malawi before bouncing back with a 1–0 win over Zambia—the 10-time African champions produced six goals to ensure progress into the knockout phase alongside group winners Malawi. Nigeria will now take on long-time rivals Cameroon in a high-stakes quarter-final encounter.
Key Match Highlights
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Oshoala Opens Scoring: Asisat Oshoala put Nigeria ahead in the 21st minute from the penalty spot following a VAR handball check, before being replaced before half-time due to an injury scare.
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Substitute Impact: First-half substitute Gift Monday doubled Nigeria’s lead in stoppage time after finishing off a short-corner sequence crafted by Rinsola Babajide.
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Second-Half Surge: Uchenna Kanu restored Nigeria’s two-goal cushion in the 57th minute shortly after stepping off the bench.
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Penalty Floodgates: Christy Ucheibe (81′) and captain Rasheedat Ajibade (90+1′) both converted VAR-awarded spot-kicks to push the scoreline to 5–1.
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Debut Goal: Substitute Joy Omewa capped off the six-goal tally in the 90+8th minute, converting an assist from Ajibade to record her first-ever WAFCON goal.
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Egyptian Resistance: Nadine Ghazi scored both goals for Egypt, first converting a penalty in first-half stoppage time and later adding a second-half strike from distance.
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│ WAFCON 2026 GROUP C MATCH METRICS & DETAILS │
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│ • Match Result : Egypt 2 – 6 Nigeria │
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│ • Venue : Stade Moulay Hassan, Rabat, Morocco │
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│ • Nigeria Goals : Oshoala (21' P), Monday (45+2'), Kanu (57'), │
│ Ucheibe (81' P), Ajibade (90+1' P), Omewa (90+8') │
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│ • Egypt Goals : Nadine Ghazi (45+10' P, 84') │
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│ • Player of Match : Rinsola Babajide (2 Assists) │
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│ • Next Fixture : Quarter-Final vs Cameroon │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘“We Responded with Character and Quality”
“We knew the expectations on us after the first two matches. The players showed exceptional character, composure, and attacking quality from the beginning. To score six goals in a crucial match shows the depth and capability within this squad as we prepare for the knockout phase.” — Justine Madugu, Super Falcons Head Coach
“The main goal was to execute our game plan, secure the three points, and qualify for the quarter-finals. Everyone stepped up, both the starters and the players coming off the bench. Now our focus turns completely to the next challenge against Cameroon.” — Rinsola Babajide, Super Falcons Winger
