WAFCON 2026: Super Falcons discover perilous path to title defence

The Super Falcons now know the task in front of them at this year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026). Thursday’s draw in Rabat placed Nigeria in Group C with Zambia, Egypt and Malawi, a group that promises little comfort despite Nigeria’s status as defending champions.

History travels with the Falcons. Ten continental titles speak for themselves, but this group demands attention. Zambia have become a familiar and stubborn opponent, Egypt return with renewed intent after the tournament expansion, and Malawi arrive with genuine threat, leaning heavily on the Chawinga sisters, whose pace and directness can trouble any defence on the continent if given space.

#TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026 Draw:

Group A
🇲🇦 Morocco
🇩🇿 Algeria
🇸🇳 Senegal
🇰🇪 Kenya

Group B
🇿🇦 South Africa
🇨🇮 Ivory Coast
🇧🇫 Burkina Faso
🇹🇿 Tanzania

Group C
🇳🇬 Nigeria
🇿🇲 Zambia
🇪🇬 Egypt
🇲🇼 Malawi

Group D
🇬🇭 Ghana
🇨🇲 Cameroon
🇲🇱 Mali
🇨🇻 Cape Verde

March 17 to April 3

— Biola Solace-Chukwu (@Beeorlicious) January 15, 2026

The tournament, scheduled for March 17 to April 3 across Morocco, comes quickly. As of today, January 15, 2026, there are barely two months left. With World Cup qualification tied to the competition, the stakes are even higher than last time out.

Super Falcons once more face preparation questions ahead of WAFCON 2026

Nigeria entered the final FIFA window of 2025 without a single friendly, a situation that drew public frustration from captain Rasheedat Ajibade and several senior players. At a time when teams were using matches to fine-tune systems, the Falcons were inactive.

Elsewhere, rivals stayed busy. South Africa returned to action against Morocco, Ghana tested themselves away to England, and Zambia sharpened their edge in a regional tournament that included Malawi and Zimbabwe. Nigeria, by contrast, have not played since October, when they sealed qualification against Benin.

Then again, a lack of preparation has been a bemusing hallmark of the Super Falcons going into major tournaments. Ahead of last year’s edition, two friendlies, hastily arranged at the last minute, was the sum of their tune-ups. Yet they went to Morocco and found their spark regardless, and are far and away Africa’s premier women’s football side.

It runs counter to logic, of course, and the sense is that, sooner rather than later, especially with the rest of continent rapidly catching up, the chickens could come home to roost in a big way.