- Safiu Kehinde
The Super Falcons of Nigeria have survived a group stage elimination scare as they advanced to the quarterfinals.
Super Falcons recorded an emphatic 6-2 victory against Egypt in their last group stage match at the ongoing 2026 Women’s African Cup of Nations, WAFCON.
Having shrugged off their shocking group opener defeat to Malawi with a narrow 1-0 win against Zambia, the Super Falcons faced off with the Egyptians in a must-win game to decide their fate.
The defending champions wasted no time to establish their dominance against their North African opponents as former Africa’s female footballer of the year, Asisat Oshoala, put the Super Falcons into the lead from the penalty spot in the 20th minute.
The Nigerian female national team would double their lead before halftime whistle as Gift Monday latched home an assist from Rinsola Babajide.
Egypt also capitalised on the first half extra time to reduce the deficit after converting a penalty kick in the 49th minute to end the first half with 2-1.
Nigeria retained their two goals lead in the57th minute as Babajide again sets up substitute Uchenna Kanu, who unleash a lethal left-footed strike straight past the Egyptian defense.
The goal galore would continue in the 80th minute after Kanu was stomped on inside the Egyptian box, gifting Nigeria a penalty.
This time, Christy Ucheibe stepped up to the penalty spot and coolly converts to put this game way out of reach.
Egypt however pulled one back again in the 84th minute to reduce the deficit to 4-2.
Unfortunately for the Cleopatras, they ran into trouble again in the 86th minute after fouling a Nigerian player in their penalty box.
Following a lengthy VAR check, the penalty was awarded with team’s captain, Rasheedat Ajibade, stepping up this time to make 5-2.
The Super Falcons would put the icing on the cake in the 98th minute courtesy Joy Omewa’s first ever WAFCON goal.
According to reports, Gift Monday mesmerizes the Egyptian defense before finding Ajibade, who dances into the box and serves it up on a silver platter for Omewa to net her first WAFCON goal.
How Nigeria Qualified Despite Sharing Six Points with Malawi, Zambia
While the win was indeed emphatic and earned Nigeria all three points to bring their total point to six, this however played little in deciding the fate of the Super Falcons fate as Zambia 2-1 win against Malawi saw the three teams tied to six points apiece.
Nigeria luckily qualified through head-to-head stats which saw them record three goals across their matches against Zambia and Malawi.
While Malawi’s three goals against Nigeria and one against Zambia saw them top the group with 4 goals difference on head-to-head stats, Zambia crashed out of the tournament despite their win as they only recorded two goals in both matches against Malawi and Nigeria.
To that effect, the Super Falcons advanced with their three goals advantage.