Nigeria’s campaign to retain the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title came to a disappointing end on Sunday night after a narrow 1-0 defeat to arch-rivals Cameroon in a fiercely contested quarter-final encounter in Casablanca.
The Super Falcons entered the match as favourites but were stunned in the 19th minute when Cameroon capitalized on a well-taken free kick to score what proved to be the decisive goal.
Despite falling behind, Nigeria responded positively and dominated large stretches of the game. The Falcons applied sustained pressure on the Cameroonian defence, creating several scoring opportunities as they searched for an equaliser before half-time.
Gift Monday and Jennifer Echegini both came close to finding the net, but Cameroon goalkeeper Michaely produced a series of impressive saves to keep her side ahead.
Head coach Justin Madugu made an early tactical adjustment, introducing Uchenna Kanu for Rinsola Babajide in the 38th minute. Further changes followed in the second half, with Toni Payne, Esther Okoronkwo and Asisat Oshoala brought on in a bid to spark a comeback.
Nigeria continued to control possession and territory, pushing the Indomitable Lionesses deep into their own half for much of the contest. However, Cameroon’s disciplined defence stood firm against relentless waves of attacks, including during stoppage time.
The result brings Nigeria’s title defence to an end, while Cameroon advances to the semi-finals. The Super Falcons will now shift their focus to a playoff encounter against South Africa’s Banyana Banyana later this week as they continue their quest for qualification to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Flying Eagles suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to Burkina Faso in the final of the 2026 WAFU Zone B U-20 Championship at Stade Charles Konan Banny in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire.
The defending champions endured a difficult evening as Burkina Faso produced a dominant first-half performance to take control of the match. The Young Stallions raced into a 3-0 lead before the break, exploiting defensive lapses in the Nigerian backline with pace and direct attacking play.
Trailing by three goals at half-time, the Flying Eagles attempted a response after the restart. Their efforts were rewarded when forward Muiz Adeleke converted a penalty to reduce the deficit to 3-1 and briefly revive hopes of a comeback.
Coach Abdu Maikaba’s side pushed forward in search of more goals and created a number of opportunities, but Burkina Faso remained organised and disciplined in defence.
Any hopes of a Nigerian comeback were eventually extinguished when Burkina Faso added a fourth goal late in the game to seal an emphatic victory and claim the regional title.
The triumph marked Burkina Faso’s second victory over Nigeria in the tournament, having also defeated the Flying Eagles during the group stage.
With the win, the Young Stallions secured the WAFU Zone B championship and, alongside hosts Ghana, earned qualification for next year’s Africa U-20 Cup of Nations. Nigeria, meanwhile, will be left to reflect on a disappointing campaign after missing out on both the title and a place among the tournament’s qualifiers.
