WAFCON: Nigeria survive Pharaohs’ scare in eight-goal thriller

Nigeria's Super Falcons survived a dramatic group stage to reach the quarter-finals of the 2026 WAFCON, securing their progression with a resounding 6-2 victory over Egypt. The win, however, was only enough to advance them on tie-breakers after a complex scenario saw them finish level on points with debutants Malawi and Zambia.

The Super Falcons experienced a shaky start to the tournament, with one win and one defeat in their opening two matches. Their fate rested not only on their own result against Egypt but also on the outcome of the match between Malawi and Zambia. Initially, Nigeria, Malawi, and Zambia were all poised to advance based on various tie-breaker criteria, including points, goal difference, and goals scored in matches among the three teams.

Nigeria took the lead against Egypt through an Asisat Oshoala penalty. First-half substitute Gift Monday doubled their advantage before Egypt pulled a goal back from the spot just before halftime. After the break, Uchenna Kanu scored with her first touch to restore Nigeria's two-goal lead. The match's outcome was further complicated by developments in the other group game, where Tabitha Chawinga scored for Malawi, altering the standings and tie-breaker calculations once more. Ultimately, Nigeria's superior goal difference in head-to-head matches secured their second-place finish in the group, advancing them to the knockout stage.

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Although it wasn’t certain how much of the goals against Egypt would count, the Super Falcons restored their two-goal lead after the restart, with second-half substitute Uchenna Kanu getting on the scoresheet with her first touch.