WAFCON 2026: ‘It’s a Final’ — Madugu Fires Up Super Falcons Ahead of Cameroon Clash

Super Falcons head coach, Justine Madugu, has described Nigeria’s upcoming quarter-final encounter against Cameroon at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) as a must-win match, insisting his players will approach it with the mentality of a final.

The defending African champions booked their place in the last eight after producing a commanding 6-2 victory over Egypt at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday night.

The impressive performance secured Nigeria’s progression after the team recovered from a disappointing opening defeat to Malawi earlier in the tournament.

The Super Falcons will now take on the Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon in Casablanca on Sunday, with a place in the semi-finals and an automatic qualification ticket for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil at stake.

Speaking after the victory over Egypt, Madugu stressed that there would be no room for complacency against their Central African rivals.

According to him, the team understands the significance of the fixture and is fully focused on achieving another victory.

“It’s a final for us. We won’t take it for granted,” the coach said while addressing reporters after the match.

Madugu admitted that Nigeria’s campaign became more difficult after the unexpected defeat to Malawi in their opening game, forcing the team to fight hard to remain in contention.

He, however, expressed satisfaction that the players responded positively by securing qualification for the knockout stage.

“We put ourselves in a very difficult position, but thank God we managed to get out of it. The competition is just starting for us,” he added.

The coach noted that reaching the quarter-finals was only the beginning of Nigeria’s objective, with the team determined to defend its continental title and secure qualification for the next FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Super Falcons remain the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and will be hoping to continue that legacy with another strong performance against Cameroon.

Victory over the Indomitable Lionesses would not only guarantee a place in the semi-finals but also confirm Nigeria’s qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, making Sunday’s encounter one of the most important matches of the tournament for the nine-time African champions.