Nigeria thrash Egypt 6-2 to reach WAFCON quarter-finals

Nigeria secured their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a convincing 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final group-stage match.

The Super Falcons produced six different goalscorers, with Rinsola Babajide and Rasheedat Ajibade particularly influential as Nigeria overcame a spirited Egyptian side.

Egypt made the brighter start in the match and tested Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie inside the opening four minutes. The low effort was well saved by the Brighton goalkeeper, who reacted sharply to keep the score level.

Nigeria gradually took control, enjoying most of the possession and dictating the pace. Their first meaningful opportunity came when Ajibade struck from the edge of the penalty area, although her effort cleared the crossbar and went wide.

Michelle Alozie then went close with a curling attempt from outside the box, but the ball drifted narrowly beyond the left-hand post.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 21st minute after a VAR review awarded Nigeria a penalty. Egypt’s Abdelwahed had handled Asisat Oshoala’s shot inside the area, giving the Super Falcons the chance to take the lead.

Oshoala took responsibility and sent Egypt goalkeeper Habiba Sabry the wrong way, placing her penalty into the bottom-right corner to make it 1-0.

Egypt’s defence held firm after the half-hour mark, limiting Nigeria’s opportunities and keeping the scoreline close.

Nigeria were dealt a blow in the 40th minute when Oshoala was forced off with what appeared to be an injury. Gift Monday replaced the former Barcelona player.

The Super Falcons continued to threaten from set pieces. After an Egyptian corner was cleared, Ajibade met the loose ball but fired high and wide.

Nigeria created two further chances before the interval, with Ajibade and Babajide both testing Sabry. The Egypt goalkeeper responded with two excellent saves to keep her side in contention.

However, Nigeria doubled their advantage shortly before half-time. Toni Payne played the ball to Babajide after a corner, and the forward beat her marker before driving into the penalty area and sending a low cross across goal.

Monday arrived in front of the near post and poked the ball into an unguarded net.

Egypt immediately found a way back into the contest before the break. VAR judged that Alozie had elbowed an Egyptian player inside the area, and Nadine Ghazi converted the resulting penalty, sending Nnadozie the wrong way to reduce the deficit to 2-1.

Nigeria began the second half with renewed intensity and restored their two-goal advantage in the 57th minute. Payne headed the ball forward to Monday, who produced a clever lay-off for Babajide.

Rather than shoot, Babajide delivered a low cross towards substitute Uchenna Kanu, who nudged the ball into an empty goal to make it 3-1.

The pace of the chances then slowed, but Nigeria were awarded another penalty in the 78th minute after a VAR check found that Kanu had been fouled inside the area.

With Oshoala no longer on the pitch, Christy Ucheibe took the kick and calmly converted to put Nigeria 4-1 ahead.

Egypt responded four minutes later on the counter-attack. Ghazi finished the move with a powerful strike from inside the penalty area which flew beyond Nnadozie.

Nigeria restored their three-goal cushion in the 88th minute when the referee awarded another penalty after Alozie appeared to have been clipped by an Egyptian defender.

The referee reviewed the incident at the VAR monitor but upheld her original decision. Ajibade took the penalty and sent it into the bottom-left corner for 5-2.

There was still time for Nigeria to add a sixth. In stoppage time, Ajibade dribbled past her marker and delivered a cross into a crowded penalty area. Substitute Joy Omewa guided the ball into the net to complete the scoring.

The result confirmed Nigeria’s place in the quarter-finals alongside Malawi, who also progressed despite losing 2-1 to Zambia.

Nigeria will face Cameroon in the last eight on 9 August.

The Super Falcons will hope to build on their attacking display while addressing the defensive weaknesses exposed during the tournament. A semi-final place would be the minimum expected of them, as reaching the last four would secure qualification for the 2027 World Cup.