Super Falcons Dominate Egypt 6-2 in WAFCON 2026 Thriller!

The final Group C game of the WAFCON 2026 tournament, held at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, proved to be a high-scoring affair between Nigeria's Super Falcons and Egypt. With eight goals netted, Nigeria successfully overturned an early deficit against Malawi in the group stage to secure their place in the quarter-finals, as reported by Soccernet.ng.

Nigeria's journey in Group C was not without challenges. After an opening 3-2 defeat to Malawi, the Super Falcons bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia, notably playing over half the match with ten players due to Oluwatosin Demehin's red card. Despite claiming six points, Zambia ultimately fell out at the group stage, with their loss to Nigeria costing them a spot in the knockout rounds and, consequently, a place in the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. Egypt, on the other hand, arrived at the decisive clash already eliminated, having suffered back-to-back defeats to Zambia and Malawi, conceding nine goals prior to facing Nigeria, though they sought to salvage some pride.

In the match against Egypt, Al-Hilal striker Asisat Oshoala broke the deadlock for Nigeria in the 21st minute from a penalty, sending the ball into the top corner. However, she was forced off due to injury problems 20 minutes later, replaced by Gift Monday, who quickly added to the scoresheet. Egypt's Nadine Ghazi pulled one back for the female Pharaohs just before half-time after Alozie conceded a penalty. While Ghazi would score another in the 84th minute, Nigeria's offense proved overwhelming. Uchenna Kanu and Joy Omewa found the back of the net from open play, while Christy Ucheibe and Rasheedat Ajibade converted penalties, contributing to Madugu's ladies' goal-filled victory.

Lessons from Nigeria's win over Egypt highlighted several key points. Firstly, Nigeria successfully qualified for the WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals, overcoming their initial setback against Malawi. Secondly, despite securing victory against Mohamed Kamal's side, the record WAFCON Champions were not outrightly dominant. The team's performance suggested they could have been punished had the Egyptians been more clinical, especially given Egypt had only scored one goal throughout the tournament before facing the Super Falcons. Concerns about rectified communication errors at the back persisted, emphasizing that any further mistakes in knockout football could lead to an early exit or loss of a World Cup spot.

Thirdly, Uchenna Kanu's impact made a strong case for her to start over Florence Ijamilusi. Coach Justine Madugu had previously favored Ijamilusi on the flank, which reportedly took away from her central playing style. Kanu, capable of operating from both flanks, consistently showed quality when brought off the bench, significantly contributing to Nigeria's comeback against Malawi and scoring immediately upon her introduction against Egypt, then winning a penalty converted by Christy Uchiebe. Her output suggested she should be a starter against tougher opponents.

Finally, Toni Payne emerged as a crucial figure in controlling the midfield. After initial midfield selection issues against Malawi and the challenge of playing with ten players against Zambia, Payne's presence offered a vital option for the Super Falcons. The Inter Milan midfielder effectively connected defenders and attackers, showcasing her silky technique by dropping into half-spaces, receiving the ball on the half-turn, and creating several chances. Ahead of the match, Nigeria faced suspensions for Oluwatosin Demehin (red card) and Jennifer Echegini (two yellow cards), with Shukurat Oladipo and Halimatu Ayinde expected to step in. Historically, the two nations had only met once before at this tournament, in 1998, when Nigeria secured a dominant 6-0 victory.