Nigeria to face Cameroon in WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals with World Cup qualification at stake
The Super Falcons of Nigeria are set to play against Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON). The match is scheduled for Sunday in Casablanca at the Stade Larbi Zaouli. The winner of this encounter will advance to the semi-finals and secure a spot in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Nigeria enters the match as the defending champions and the most successful team in the competition’s history. Cameroon, on the other hand, reached the knockout stage without a defeat in their group matches.
Historical Encounters and Current Form
Historically, Nigeria has dominated their WAFCON meetings with Cameroon. Since 1998, the two teams have met 13 times in the tournament, with Nigeria winning nine matches, Cameroon winning one, and three matches ending in draws. Nigeria has scored 33 goals against Cameroon’s six in these encounters.
Nigeria’s dominance began with a 6-0 semi-final victory in the inaugural 1998 edition. They also secured significant wins such as 3-0 in the 2000 group stage, 5-0 in the 2004 final, and another 5-0 in the 2006 semi-final. A 5-1 win followed in the 2010 semi-final. Cameroon’s sole WAFCON victory over Nigeria was a 1-0 win in the 2012 third-place match, after Nigeria had beaten them 2-1 in the group stage. Nigeria later defeated Cameroon in the 2014 and 2016 finals with scores of 2-0 and 1-0, respectively. Their 2018 semi-final ended 0-0, with Nigeria advancing 4-2 on penalties. The most recent WAFCON meeting saw Nigeria win 1-0 in the 2022 quarter-final, securing qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Cameroon has shown strong form in the current tournament, topping Group D with seven points. They achieved this by defeating Mali 2-1, beating Ghana 1-0, and drawing 1-1 with Cape Verde. Marie Gisele Ngah Manga has been a key player for Cameroon, scoring three of their four group-stage goals. She was cleared to continue in the tournament after an ankle problem.
In friendly matches earlier this year, Cameroon secured a 1-0 victory over Nigeria in Yaounde in February, though Nigeria responded with a 3-1 win in the return match three days later.
Team Preparations and Player Perspectives
Cameroon midfielder Naomi Eto acknowledged Nigeria’s status as the stronger side on paper but stated her team would not be intimidated. She noted that Cameroon would maintain their playing style, focusing on the technical staff’s plan and addressing any identified shortcomings. Eto, who is playing in her first WAFCON, highlighted the team’s collective strength and fighting spirit, stating that the outcome would be decided on the pitch.
Nigeria’s journey to the quarter-finals has been less consistent. They experienced a 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening Group C match. However, they recovered with a 1-0 victory over Zambia and then delivered a strong performance, defeating Egypt 6-2 in their final group match. Asisat Oshoala has been a significant attacking presence, scoring against Zambia and converting a penalty against Egypt. She also scored twice in Nigeria’s two friendly matches against Senegal before the tournament.
Coach Justine Madugu will see the return of defender Oluwatosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini, who were suspended for the Egypt match. Their return provides more options for Nigeria as they aim to avoid a setback against Cameroon. Madugu emphasised the team’s objective: to secure the World Cup ticket and then retain the WAFCON trophy.
The match on Sunday carries significant implications for both teams, with a place in the semi-finals and a World Cup berth at stake.
Source: premiumtimesng.com
