Group C of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is set for a dramatic conclusion as reigning champions Nigeria face Egypt in their final group match in Rabat on Wednesday. Malawi currently lead the standings with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia are tied on three points each. Egypt,……
Group C of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations is set for a dramatic conclusion as reigning champions Nigeria face Egypt in their final group match in Rabat on Wednesday.
Malawi currently lead the standings with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia are tied on three points each. Egypt, meanwhile, are yet to register a point after losing their opening two fixtures.
The Super Falcons recovered from a disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening game by edging Zambia 1-0, thanks to Asisat Oshoala’s early strike in the eighth minute.
That victory lifted Nigeria to second place in the group, with the nine-time African champions holding the advantage over Zambia on the head-to-head rule despite the Copper Queens boasting a superior goal difference of +5 compared to Nigeria’s 0.
The group, however, could become even more complicated if Zambia defeat Malawi and Nigeria overcome Egypt. Such a scenario would leave Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia level on six points, with the final standings determined by the head-to-head record among the three sides.
The top two teams in each group will qualify for the quarter-finals, while the four semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The four losing quarter-finalists will compete in playoff matches, with two teams progressing to the FIFA Inter-Confederation Playoffs.
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Key details
Date: Wednesday, August 5
Kick-off: 9 p.m. WAT (9 p.m. local time in Morocco and BST, 10 p.m. CAT)
Venue: Stade Olympique de Rabat
How to watch: The match will be broadcast by AfroSport in Nigeria, with SuperSport and CAF TV also providing coverage.
Team news
Nigeria will be without defender Oluwatosin Demehin, who is suspended following her red card against Zambia.
Midfielder Jennifer Echegini is also unavailable after accumulating yellow cards in the matches against Malawi and Zambia.
Predicted line-ups
Egypt
GK: Maha Shehata
Defenders: Christina Salama, Nour Abdelwahed, Noura Khaled, Yassmin Zezo
Midfielders: Amira Mohamed, Ali Mahira
Attackers: Habiba Essam, Nadine Ghazi, Farah El Mahdy
Forward: Sarah Essam
Nigeria
GK: Chiamaka Nnadozie
Defenders: Rofiat Imuran, Shukurat Oladipo, Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie
Midfielders: Deborah Abiodun, Christy Ucheibe, Halimatu Ayinde
Attackers: Esther Okoronkwo, Asisat Oshoala, Rasheedat Ajibade
Key statistics
* Oshoala’s winner against Zambia was her fifth goal in eight Women’s Africa Cup of Nations appearances since making her tournament debut in 2018.
* Nnadozie has recorded five clean sheets in nine WAFCON appearances since making her debut at the competition in 2022.
* Nigeria are the only African nation to have featured at all nine editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, reaching the quarter-finals in 1999. Failure to qualify for Brazil 2027 would mark the first time the Super Falcons miss the tournament.
