The Super Falcons of Nigeria will renew their rivalry with Cameroon on Sunday as both sides battle for a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and a ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Key Highlights
- Super Falcons face Cameroon on Sunday in a crucial 2026 WAFCON quarter-final.
- The match will determine who advances to the semi-finals and takes a major step toward the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- Nigeria enters the clash as the defending African champions.
- The quarter-final will take place at Stade Larbi Zaouli, Casablanca, with kick-off at 6pm.
- Nigeria defeated Cameroon 1-0 in the 2023 Women’s World Cup qualification playoff, with Rasheedat Ajibade scoring the decisive header.
The defending champions are expected to approach the quarter-final clash with determination when they face the Indomitable Lionesses at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca from 6pm.
The encounter brings back memories of the two teams’ meeting in the 2023 Women’s World Cup qualification playoff, when Nigeria edged Cameroon 1-0 to secure a place at the tournament in Australia and New Zealand.
Rasheedat Ajibade scored the decisive goal with a second-half header to send the Super Falcons through.
Nigeria have historically dominated their meetings with Cameroon at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The rivalry dates back to the inaugural tournament hosted by Nigeria in 1998, when the Falcons thrashed the Cameroonians 6-0 in Kaduna.
The two sides also contested the 2014 and 2016 WAFCON finals.
In the 2014 final in Windhoek, Namibia, goals from Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala gave Nigeria a 2-0 victory.
Two years later in Yaoundé, Cameroon, Oparanozie again proved decisive as her late goal handed the Falcons another victory over the hosts.
Nigeria also secured a win over Cameroon in a two-match friendly series in Yaoundé earlier this year.
The Lionesses won the first encounter 1-0 before the Falcons responded with a 3-1 victory in the return fixture.
Chinwendu Ihezuo, Rinsola Babajide and Michelle Alozie were on target for Nigeria in the second game and are all part of the squad in Morocco.
The Falcons had also defeated Cameroon 2-0 in a friendly at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta last year during preparations for their successful Mission X campaign.
Coach Justin Madugu is expected to retain much of the squad that produced a convincing 6-0 victory over Egypt in Nigeria’s final Group C fixture in Rabat.
Veteran forward Asisat Oshoala could also return to the starting lineup after producing a series of impressive performances in Morocco.
Oshoala scored the only goal in Nigeria’s victory over Zambia and converted from the penalty spot in the win against Egypt.
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The Barcelona forward also scored twice during Nigeria’s two friendly matches against Senegal in Ikenne-Remo before the tournament.
Nigeria will also welcome back defender Tosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini, who missed the Egypt game through suspension.
Madugu said the team’s primary target remains securing qualification for the 2027 World Cup before attempting to defend its continental crown.
“Our objective remains picking the World Cup ticket and then going ahead to retain the trophy. Nothing has changed,” he said.
The quarter-final will be played at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, a venue familiar to the Falcons after they played several matches there during their successful campaign last year.
