Nigeria's Super Falcons booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations after an emphatic 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final Group C match in Morocco.
Needing a victory to keep their knockout hopes firmly in their own hands, the defending champions produced an attacking display that proved too much for the Egyptians despite conceding twice during the contest.
Nigeria took the lead in the 21st minute after a VAR review awarded the Super Falcons a penalty for handball. Veteran striker Asisat Oshoala stepped up and calmly sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to register her first goal of the tournament.
Nigeria made an early attacking change in the 40th minute as goalscorer Oshoala was replaced by Gift Monday.
The substitute made an immediate impact, scoring in first-half stoppage time to double the Super Falcons' lead.
Egypt pulled one back from the penalty spot deep into stoppage time when Nadine Ghazi converted after Michelle Alozie was adjudged to have committed a foul inside the area, leaving the score at 2-1 at the break.
Nigeria restored their two-goal cushion in the 57th minute as Rinsola Babajide again turned provider, setting up substitute Uchenna Kanu, who fired home with a powerful left-footed finish.
Another VAR intervention resulted in Nigeria's second penalty of the evening after Kanu was fouled inside the box.
Christy Ucheibe confidently converted from the spot in the 80th minute to make it 4-1 before Ghazi grabbed her second goal of the match four minutes later to reduce the deficit to 4-2.
Nigeria were awarded a third penalty after another VAR review upheld the referee's decision.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade stepped up and emphatically converted from the spot in the 91st minute to make it 5-2.
The Super Falcons added further gloss to the scoreline in the ninth minute of stoppage time when Joy Omewa found the back of the net to complete an emphatic 6-2 victory.
The victory saw the 10-time African champions finish second in Group C behind Zambia, who defeated Malawi 2-1 to secure top spot, with both teams progressing to the knockout stage.
Wale Adejumo
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