Nigeria vs Egypt: All You Need to Know Ahead of WAFCON Clash
Nigeria’s Super Falcons face already-eliminated Egypt in a decisive Group C finale at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Wednesday, with a place in the quarter-finals firmly within their grasp, though not yet guaranteed.
Match details
The fixture kicks off at 9:00 p.m. West African Time at the Stade Olympique de Rabat in Morocco, with the match broadcast live on AfroSport, SuperSport, and CAF TV. In the other decisive Group C encounter, group leaders Malawi take on Zambia at the same venue and kick-off time, with the Confederation of African Football confirming that both fixtures will be played simultaneously to protect the integrity of the group standings.
Where things stand
Nigeria currently sit second in Group C on three points, behind leaders Malawi on six points, with Zambia also on three points and Egypt bottom of the group without a single point after two matches. The defending champions opened their campaign with a shock 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi, a result inspired by a double from Temwa Chawinga and a further goal from her sister and captain, Tabitha Chawinga, despite a spirited late fightback from Nigeria. The Super Falcons responded impressively in their second outing, edging past Zambia 1-0 courtesy of an early strike from Asisat Oshoala, a result achieved despite playing more than half the match with only ten players following a red card shown to defender Oluwatosin Demehin.
Egypt, by contrast, have already been eliminated from contention, having lost both of their opening matches, a 6-0 defeat to Zambia and a 3-1 loss to Malawi, conceding nine goals in the process while scoring only once.
What Nigeria needs
Victory over Egypt will guarantee Nigeria’s place in the quarter-finals outright, without needing to rely on the result of the Malawi-Zambia fixture. However, should Zambia beat Malawi while Nigeria also wins, all three teams, Malawi, Zambia, and Nigeria, would finish level on six points, forcing CAF to apply head-to-head tie-break criteria among the trio to determine the group’s final standings.
Team news
Nigeria will be without two key players for the Egypt clash. Defender Oluwatosin Demehin is suspended following her red card against Zambia, while midfielder Jennifer Echegini will also miss the match after picking up two yellow cards. Head coach Justine Madugu is expected to rely heavily on captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, Michelle Alozie, and Esther Okoronkwo to see out the group stage campaign.
Player to watch
Oshoala remains Nigeria’s most potent attacking threat, having scored the decisive goal in the win over Zambia to extend her WAFCON tally to five goals in eight tournament appearances since her debut in 2018. Nnadozie will also be crucial between the posts, having kept five clean sheets in nine WAFCON appearances since making her tournament debut in 2022.
Head-to-head history
Nigeria and Egypt have met only once before at the WAFCON, with the Super Falcons securing a commanding 6-0 victory back in 1998. More broadly, Nigeria have a strong record against North African opposition at the tournament, winning six and drawing three of their previous nine meetings against sides from the region, and have never lost to a North African team in regulation time.
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