The Super Falcons of Nigeria will be aiming to seal a place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations when they take on Egypt in their final Group C fixture at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday.
Nigeria’s campaign has been a story of resilience after recovering from a disappointing opening defeat to tournament debutants Malawi. The nine-time African champions suffered a surprise 3-2 loss in their first outing but responded in impressive fashion with a determined 1-0 victory over Zambia despite playing for more than half of the match with 10 players.
The Super Falcons would need a convincing win against Egypt to qualify for the next round of the Competition
Head Coach Justine Madugu will, however, have to make changes to his squad after two key players were ruled out through suspension. Defender Oluwatosin Demehin misses the encounter following her red card against Zambia, while Jennifer Echegini is also unavailable after accumulating two yellow cards.
Shukurat Oladipo is expected to step into central defence, while Halimatu Ayinde and Deborah Abiodun are both in contention to strengthen the midfield.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade will once again lead the side, with Oshoala expected to spearhead the attack alongside Esther Okoronkwo and Toni Payne in an attack capable of troubling any defence.
Egypt arrive for the encounter already eliminated from the competition after suffering heavy defeats in their opening two matches. Mohamed Kamal’s side were beaten 6-0 by Zambia before falling 3-1 to Malawi, leaving them bottom of the group without a point.
History also favours Nigeria heading into the contest. The two nations last met at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in 1998, when the Super Falcons cruised to an emphatic 6-0 victory, underlining the gulf in class between both teams.
With qualification at stake and potentially goal difference also playing a role, the Super Falcons are expected to approach the game with attacking intent from the opening whistle.
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