- Debutants Malawi Battle Ghana In Rabat
The Super Falcons of Nigeria and Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon are set for a thrilling showdown at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, with the winners advancing to the semi-finals and securing automatic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
Both countries will be renewing their fierce rivalry in the quarter-final encounter slated for the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca today, 9th August 2026 and the kick-off time is 18h00 local time (17h00 GMT).
The two African powerhouses secured their knockout places in contrasting fashion, setting up what promises to be a thrilling encounter tonight. Nigeria endured a difficult start after suffering a surprise defeat to WAFCON debutants Malawi, but recovered to reach the knockout stage as Group D runners-up.
On their part, Cameroon topped their group after recording victories over Mali and Ghana before drawing 1-1 with Cape Verde.
With both sides boasting a rich history in African women’s football, the quarter-final offers another chapter in their storied rivalry.
MATCH FACTS
- Cameroon and Nigeria are meeting at the WAFCON finals for the 14th time, making this the most-played fixture in the history of the competition.
- Cameroon and Nigeria have met at every stage of a WAFCON tournament, having previously clashed in the group stage, quarter-finals, semi-finals, third-place play-off and final.
- This will be their second quarter-final meeting, following Nigeria’s 1-0 victory in the last eight in 2022.
- Nigeria dominated the previous 13 meetings, winning nine in open play and another two on penalties. Cameroon have one victory, while one other game ended in a draw without a shoot-out.
- Since the first centralised WAFCON finals in 1998, the teams have met at every edition both have participated in except 2002. Cameroon did not qualify for the 2024 edition.
- They have met twice at the same tournament on two occasions. In 2004, they drew 2-2 in the group stage before the Super Falcons won the final 5-0.
- They also met twice in 2012, with Nigeria winning their group-stage clash 2-1 before Cameroon claimed their only WAFCON victory over the Super Falcons with a 1-0 success in the third-place play-off.
- Their first meeting at a centralised WAFCON finals came in the 1998 semi-finals, when Nigeria won 6-0.
- This will be the sixth direct knockout meeting between the sides, excluding finals and third-place play-offs.
- Their previous five such encounters were four semi-finals and one quarter-final. Nigeria won 6-0 in 1998, 5-0 in 2006 and 5-1 in 2010, before the 2018 semi-final ended 0-0 and the Super Falcons advanced on penalties. Nigeria then won their 2022 quarter-final 1-0.
- In those five direct knockout matches, Nigeria scored 17 goals and conceded only once, keeping four clean sheets.
- The sides have met three times in the group stage. Nigeria won 3-0 in 2000, they drew 2-2 in 2004 and the Super Falcons claimed a 2-1 victory in 2012.
- Both teams have contested two third-place play-offs. Nigeria prevailed 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw in 2008, while Cameroon won 1-0 in 2012.
- Nigeria and Cameroon have contested three WAFCON finals, with the Super Falcons winning all three: 5-0 in 2004, 2-0 in 2014 and 1-0 in 2016.
- Cameroon’s only WAFCON victory over Nigeria was their 1-0 success in the 2012 third-place play-off.
- Their most recent meeting at the finals was the 2022 quarter-final at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca on 14 July, when Rasheedat Ajibade scored the only goal in the 56th minute.
- Nigeria have scored 33 goals in their previous 13 WAFCON meetings with Cameroon and conceded six.
- Nigeria have kept eight clean sheets against Cameroon and failed to score only twice – in their 1-0 defeat in the 2012 third-place play-off and the 0-0 draw in the 2018 semi-finals, which the Super Falcons won on penalties.
- The 2018 semi-final remains the only goalless encounter in the previous 13 WAFCON meetings.
- Two previous meetings have gone to penalty shoot-outs and Nigeria won both. They prevailed 5-4 following a 1-1 draw in the 2008 third-place play-off and 4-2 after the goalless 2018 semi-final.
- Cameroon have played all three of their matches at the current tournament in Casablanca. This will be their third at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, where they defeated Mali 2-1 and drew 1-1 with Cabo Verde in the group stage.
- Nigeria will play in Casablanca for the first time at the current edition, having played all three group matches in Rabat.
- They did, however, play five matches at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium during the previous edition and are unbeaten at the venue (W4 D1).
- At the previous edition, Nigeria defeated Tunisia 3-0 and Botswana 1-0 at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium before drawing 0-0 with Algeria. They then beat Zambia 5-0 in the quarter-finals and South Africa 2-1 in the semi-finals.
- The Super Falcons have kept four clean sheets in their five previous WAFCON games at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, scoring 11 goals and conceding only once.
It’s Malawi Versus Ghana
Reaching the knockout stages as Group C winners, debutants Malawi will face Group D runners-up Ghana in the last quarter-final tie at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
Kick-off is at 21h00 local time (20h00 GMT), with the winners completing the semi-finals and also securing automatic qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Brazil 2027.
