Nigeria’s Super Falcons on Sunday crashed out of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in a quarter-final match, losing to the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon by a lone goal.
The defeat ended the 10-time WAFCON champions bid to win the title again and also meant they did not get automatic ticket to feature in the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
Nigeria came into the quarter-final game played at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, Morocco as the favourite but the match ended in a disappointment as Cameroon scored a 19th minute goal through defender Myriam Nyadjou.
Different scoring chances created by the Nigerian side were not converted as the Cameroon goalkeeper, Michaely Bihina, stood firm throughout the contest to preserve Cameroon’s lead. She indeed made eight saves as Nigeria frantically searched for an equaliser that never materialised.
Nigeria entered Sunday’s game after a nervy end to their Group C outing, where they only qualified for the quarter-finals on a tiebreaker rule, having scored more goals than Zambia, who had the same points — six — as the Super Falcons.
Quite uncharacteristic, Coach Justine Madugu’s team entered their final group stage game under immense pressure after a shocking 2-3 loss to debutants Malawi. They, however, bounced back, recording a narrow victory over Zambia to keep their WAFCON dreams alive.
Despite a commanding 2-6 triumph over the Cleopatras of Egypt, the continental giants could only squeeze into the last in second place behind Malawi, who lost to Zambia on the same day.
That victory handed the Super Falcons a tricky tie against the rival Indomitable Lionesses, a match that rekindled the old flames of the women’s game on the continent.
Cameroon, unlike their opponent, were undefeated as they dispatched Mali and Ghana in their first two matches. Already guaranteed a top finish from Group C, they then drew against Cape Verde to end their Group D campaign on seven points.
Until Sunday’s match, both teams had played 13 times, with Super Falcons winning nine while the Indomitable Lionesses were victorious in only one. However, one of the games ended in a draw without a shootout.
