Nigeria’s quest for a record-extending 11th African Women’s Cup of Nations title will face a stern test at the quarterfinal stage, where the Super Falcons will face the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon.

Nigeria defeated Egypt 6-2 in their last Group C game on Wednesday to finish second behind Malawi and earn a berth in the last eight. Cameroon won Group D with six points ahead of Ghana after beating Mali 2-1 and the Black Queens 1-0.

Victory over Cameroon will not only put the Super Falcons a step closer to retaining their title, but it will also ensure their presence at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

All the semifinalists will automatically qualify for the World Cup, billed to be held in Brazil.

Additionally, two more teams from the championship adjudged as the best losing quarterfinalists in the championship will have another opportunity to reach the World Cup by competing in the FIFA inter-confederation play-offs.

This means Africa could ultimately have as many as six representatives at the 2027 Women’s World Cup if both play-off teams successfully qualify.

In Nigeria’s game against Egypt, the Cup-holders set the tone early in the contest, taking the lead in the 21st minute when Asisat Oshoala coolly converted a penalty following a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) handball check. Substitute Gift Monday doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time, finishing off a brilliant short-corner routine involving Toni Payne and Rinsola Babajide. Egypt pulled one back shortly after to send the sides into the break at 2–1.

The 10-time champions maintained complete control after the restart, with substitute Uchenna Kanu restoring the two-goal cushion in the 57th minute with a crisp left-footed strike. Nigeria’s dominance was further rewarded through back-to-back VAR-awarded penalties, which Christy Ucheibe and captain Rasheedat Ajibade decisively dispatched in the 80th and 88th minutes respectively. The highlight of the night came deep into stoppage time when Gift Monday and Ajibade sliced through the Egyptian defence to set up Joy Omewa, who tapped home to mark her first-ever WAFCON goal and cap off an explosive eight-goal thriller.