The Super Falcons will not only be chasing victory against Egypt when they take to the pitch on Wednesday night but could also be fighting for the top spot in Group C as the race for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals reaches its climax.
Nigeria face an already-eliminated Egyptian side in Rabat, while group leaders Malawi lock horns with Zambia in the other decisive Group C fixture.
The final standings could hinge on more than just who wins.
If Zambia defeat Malawi and Nigeria overcome Egypt, all three teams would finish the group stage on six points, leaving the Confederation of African Football’s tie-break criteria to determine the group winner and runner-up.
That means every goal scored and conceded could prove crucial in deciding who finishes top of the group and secures what could be a more favourable quarter-final pairing.
A first-place finish would allow the group winner to avoid another group winner in the last eight, while the runner-up is likely to face a tougher knockout opponent.
Nigeria began their title defence with a win before suffering a setback against Malawi, leaving the nine-time African champions with little room for error in their final group fixture.
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Although Egypt are already out of contention for a place in the quarter-finals, the North Africans could still influence the outcome of Group C by frustrating the Super Falcons or limiting the margin of defeat.
Zambia, meanwhile, know victory over Malawi could be enough to send them to the top of the standings, depending on the outcome of Nigeria’s clash with Egypt and the tournament’s tie-break rules.
For coach Justin Madugu’s side, the objective will be clear: beat Egypt first and then hope the other result works in their favour.
Nigeria’s match against Egypt kicks off at 9 p.m. West African time at the Stade Olympique de Rabat.
The game will be broadcast live on AfroSport, SuperSport and CAF TV.
The top two teams from each of the three WAFCON groups qualify automatically for the quarter-finals, alongside the two best third-placed teams.
Nigeria are aiming to win a record-extending 10th continental title after entering the tournament as defending champions.
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