The Super Falcons of Nigeria have qualified for the quarter-finals of the 2026 WAFCON following a 6-2 victory over the Cleopatras of Egypt in their final Group C match in Rabat on Wednesday.

With their qualification hinging so much on a comprehensive result, the Super Falcons made no secret of their intent, setting the pace early on and getting a deserved breakthrough in the 21st minute when VAR adjudged that Asisat Oshoala’s shot had been handled in the penalty area by an Egyptian defender. The six-time African Player of the Year stepped up to the spot, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for Nigeria’s opener.

A few minutes before the half-time whistle, the 10-time champions doubled their lead from a corner kick, which found its way to substitute Gift Monday to smash home following a brilliant exchange between Toni Payne and Rinsola Babajide. But Nigeria would not go into the break with a two-goal cushion as Egypt pulled one back through Ghazi Nadine from the penalty spot following Michelle Alozie’s foul.

About 12 minutes into the second half, substitute Uchenna Kanu extended Nigeria’s lead with a lethal left-footed strike from close range after a frantic scramble inside the box allowed Babajide to set her up for her second assist of the game.

Christy Ucheibe converted Nigeria’s third penalty of the game for the Falcons’ fourth goal in the 81st minute after Uchenna Kanu was fouled, but the Egyptians mustered a response to pull one back three minutes later through a superb curler from Ghazi.

It was all Nigeria from then on as the penalty count climbed again in the 90th minute, this time captain Rasheedat Ajibade stepping up to convert the Falcons’ fifth before brilliantly setting up substitute Joy Omewa to net her first WAFCON goal and complete an emphatic 6-2 victory for Nigeria.

The victory was just two goals short of Nigeria’s 6-0 win over the Cleopatras in their last WAFCON meeting in 1998. More importantly, it sealed the turnaround of what had started as a topsy-turvy title defence campaign in Morocco. The Super Falcons will now face Cameroon in the quarter-finals, with a place in the semi-finals and a FIFA Women’s World Cup ticket at stake.