WAFCON 2026: Nigeria aim above South Africa and Zambia in Morocco – Two targets revealed

The Super Falcons will head to Morocco for the delayed 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with much more than just defending their African crown on their minds, Afrik-Foot reports.

Nigeria want to keep their place among the world’s best by qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup while also winning a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.

The tournament, which was moved by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) from March to July, will run from July 25 to August 16 in Morocco. Nigeria arrive as defending champions after what was the greatest final in the competition’s history.

In the last edition, the Super Falcons came from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final. Morocco led 2-0 at halftime before Esther Okoronkwo started the comeback with a penalty in the 64th minute. She later set up Folashade Ijamilusi for the equaliser before Jennifer Echegini scored the winning goal in the 88th minute from a well-worked free-kick.

Captain Rasheedat Ajibade finished as the tournament’s Best Player, while goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie won the Best Goalkeeper award as Nigeria lifted their 10th African title.

The Super Falcons booked their place at the 2026 tournament by beating Benin Republic 3-1 on aggregate in the final qualifying round. They have been drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt and tournament debutants Malawi, with all their group matches scheduled for the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

WAFCON target: World Cup qualification comes first

Although Nigeria are aiming to defend their African title, head coach Justine Madugu says the team’s first mission is to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

The four teams that reach the WAFCON semi-finals will automatically qualify for the World Cup. Teams that finish fifth and sixth will have another chance through the FIFA Inter-Confederation Play-Off Tournament.

The stakes are even higher for Nigeria because the Super Falcons remain the only African team to have qualified for every FIFA Women’s World Cup since the competition began in 1991. Reaching the last four will protect that remarkable record.

Madugu made the team’s priorities clear.

“The next Africa Cup of Nations will be a qualifier for the 2027 World Cup,” Madugu told CAFonline. “Our first objective will therefore be to secure our place at the World Cup. The second will be to retain our title and bring the trophy back to Abuja. We will be the team to beat; we hold the precious prize that everyone covets, but we will be ready for a fight.”

Defending the WAFCON trophy against Africa’s best

Once World Cup qualification is secured, Nigeria’s attention will fully turn to winning another WAFCON title. Success in Morocco would give the Super Falcons an 11th continental crown and strengthen their position as the most successful women’s national team in Africa.

The biggest threats are expected to come from South Africa, Morocco and Zambia.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana are Africa’s second-ranked team and have regularly challenged Nigeria in recent years. Morocco will enjoy home support once again as they host the tournament for the third straight time after finishing runners-up in the previous two editions on home soil. Zambia, who are in Nigeria’s group, are arguably the continent’s fastest-rising team and could provide the Super Falcons’ toughest test before the knockout rounds.

Other teams capable of causing problems include Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal, making the expanded 16-team tournament easily the most competitive in WAFCON history.