For 90 tense minutes before kick-off, Nigeria’s Super Falcons stood on the edge of an unthinkable disaster. Why because, the defending champions knew that another slip could have ended one of African football’s greatest dynasties before the knockout stage even began.
The girls have been wounded by a shocking opening defeat to Malawi and forced into a must-win showdown against Egypt.
Instead, the Super Falcons produced their loudest response yet.
With goals flowing from every corner of the pitch, Justin Madugu’s rejuvenated side tore Egypt apart in a breathtaking 6-2 victory at the Stade Moulay Hassan on Wednesday night.
They automatically stormed into the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and setting up a mouthwatering last-eight clash against old rivals Cameroon.
It was the kind of performance that reminded Africa exactly why Nigeria remain the continent’s most successful women’s football nation.
Pressure? What Pressure? Falcons Deliver When It Matters
Nigeria entered the final Group C fixture carrying enormous pressure.
The tournament had started disastrously with a stunning 3-2 defeat to debutants Malawi before the Super Falcons dug deep to edge Zambia 1-0 despite playing with 10 players for much of the contest.
That victory revived their hopes, but nothing less than another positive result against Egypt would guarantee a place in the knockout rounds.
Rather than buckle under the pressure, the Super Falcons embraced it.
From the opening whistle, Nigeria attacked with purpose, intensity and confidence, pinning Egypt deep inside their own half.
Oshoala Breaks the Deadlock From the Spot
Nigeria’s persistence was rewarded in the 21st minute.
After a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review identified a handball inside the Egyptian penalty area, the referee pointed straight to the spot.
Up stepped veteran striker Asisat Oshoala.
The six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year showed nerves of steel, calmly sending the goalkeeper the wrong way to hand Nigeria a deserved 1-0 lead.
It was another huge moment from the experienced forward, who had also scored the winner in the crucial victory over Zambia.
Gift Monday Doubles Nigeria’s Advantage
The Super Falcons continued to dominate possession and create opportunities, but Egypt managed to frustrate them for much of the opening half.
Just when it seemed Nigeria would head into the dressing room with only a slender advantage, they struck again.
Deep into first-half stoppage time, a brilliantly worked short-corner routine involving Toni Payne and Rinsola Babajide carved open the Egyptian defence.
Babajide delivered the final pass and Gift Monday finished clinically to double Nigeria’s lead and spark celebrations on the Nigerian bench.
Egypt Refuse to Roll Over
The Cleopatras refused to surrender quietly. Deep into first-half stoppage time, Egypt were awarded a penalty of their own.
Nadine Ghazi stepped forward and confidently converted to reduce the deficit to 2-1 before the halftime whistle.
Suddenly, the contest was alive again.
Second-Half Blitz Crushes Egyptian Resistance
Any hopes Egypt had of launching a comeback disappeared almost immediately after the restart.
Nigeria returned with even greater purpose.
In the 57th minute, Rinsola Babajide grabbed her second assist of the evening, finding substitute Uchenna Kanu, who fired home with a crisp left-footed finish to restore Nigeria’s two-goal cushion.
The goal settled any nerves inside the stadium and opened the floodgates.
VAR Works in Nigeria’s Favour Again
Nigeria’s relentless attacking pressure continued to overwhelm Egypt.
Another VAR intervention handed the Super Falcons a second penalty of the night.
This time, midfielder Christy Ucheibe stepped up.
She made no mistake.
Her composed finish stretched Nigeria’s lead to 4-1 and effectively ended the contest.
Although Nadine Ghazi grabbed her second goal of the night in the 84th minute after being set up by Yasmin Hassanin, Nigeria were in no mood to ease off.
Captain Ajibade Leads the Party
The Super Falcons finished the match in spectacular fashion.
A third VAR-awarded penalty gave captain Rasheedat Ajibade the opportunity to join the scoresheet.
The skipper confidently dispatched her effort in the 88th minute, making it 5-2 and underlining Nigeria’s dominance, but there was still time for one final flourish.
Deep into stoppage time, Gift Monday and Ajibade combined brilliantly to slice open Egypt’s defence before laying the ball across for substitute Joy Omewa.
The youngster made no mistake.
Her simple finish secured her first-ever WAFCON goal and completed Nigeria’s remarkable six-goal demolition.
The final whistle confirmed an emphatic 6-2 victory.
Statement Victory Revives Nigeria’s Title Defence
After beginning the tournament with one of the biggest upsets in WAFCON history against Malawi, questions had begun to emerge over whether the defending champions were finally vulnerable.
Those doubts have now been replaced by belief.
The Super Falcons have responded to adversity exactly as champions often do.
First came the gritty victory over Zambia while playing with 10 women.
Then came this devastating attacking display against Egypt.
Six goals.
Three different penalty scorers.
Multiple goal contributors.
And perhaps most importantly, renewed confidence heading into the business end of the competition.
– Read More: WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons Stars Reveal How They Defied the Odds to Defeat Zambia
– Read More: “THE PERMUTATIONS ARE IN!” – Here’s How Super Falcons Can Reach the WAFCON Knockout Stage
– Read More: “SHE SAID WHAT?” – Find Out What Malawi’s Chawinga Said That Have Everyone Talking Ahead of WAFCON Decider
Group C Ends in Dramatically
The simultaneous Group C encounter also delivered another surprise.
Malawi continued their dream tournament despite losing 2-1 to Zambia, to finish top of the group.
Final Group C standings:
- Malawi – 6 points
- Nigeria – 6 points
- Zambia – 6 points
- Egypt – 0 points
With all three leading teams level on points, the final positions were decided by the competition’s tiebreak criteria.
Malawi finished first, Nigeria advanced in second place, while Zambia’s campaign came to a heartbreaking end despite collecting two victories.
Egypt exited the tournament without a single point after conceding 15 goals across three matches.
Cameroon Await as the Real Battle Begins
Nigeria’s reward is a blockbuster quarter-final showdown against familiar rivals Cameroon.
It promises to be another fierce chapter in one of African women’s football’s greatest rivalries.
After surviving the storm that threatened to sink their title defence before it truly began, the Super Falcons will travel into the knockout rounds carrying renewed momentum.
The ghosts of that opening-night collapse against Malawi have finally been buried.
The attack has rediscovered its ruthless edge, and the belief is back.
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