WAFCON 2026: Ranking Nigeria Super Falcons’ group stage rivals – Egypt, Malawi, Zambia

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will begin another quest for continental glory when the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) kicks off in Morocco later this month, Afrik-Foot reports.

The ten-time African champions have been drawn in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt and tournament debutants Malawi. Their group-stage matches will be played between July 28 and August 5 in Rabat, with every game kicking off at 9:00 pm Nigerian time.

The Super Falcons open their campaign against Malawi on Tuesday at Al Madina Stadium before taking on Zambia at the same venue on Saturday, August 1. Their final group match comes against Egypt on Wednesday, August 5 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.

Before the tournament begins, the Nigerian squad will hold its final training camp in Mohammedia from July 15 before moving into its tournament base in Rabat.

Beyond competing for the African title, every team also has another major target. The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, making every group-stage point extremely valuable.

While Nigeria are favourites to top Group C because of their rich history and experience, each opponent brings different qualities that could make life difficult for the Super Falcons.

WAFCON: Who poses the biggest threat against the Super Falcons?

Egypt: Disciplined but lacking attacking power

Egypt may appear to be the outsiders in Group C, but they have built a reputation as a team that is difficult to break down.

Under head coach Mohamed Kamal, the Lady Pharaohs have focused on becoming a disciplined defensive side. Instead of attacking in large numbers, they prefer to stay compact, defend deep and wait for chances from free-kicks, corners and long throws.

Their squad has also improved thanks to several players based in Europe and North America. Former Stoke City forward Sarah Essam is their most experienced attacker, while a number of midfielders playing in the United States and Canada have added more technical quality to the team.

However, Egypt’s biggest problem remains scoring goals. Against stronger teams, they often spend long periods defending, leaving their lone striker isolated without support. Their defenders also struggle against quick and physical opponents, something Nigeria is expected to exploit.

Historically, Egypt have little success at WAFCON. They previously qualified only in 1998 and 2016, failing to progress beyond the group stage on both occasions. Their only victory at the tournament came against Zimbabwe in 2016.

When they meet Nigeria on August 5, Egypt will likely adopt another defensive approach. Their aim could simply be to frustrate the Super Falcons for as long as possible and hope to steal a result through a counterattack or a set-piece.

Still, Nigeria’s pace, strength and attacking depth make the Super Falcons overwhelming favourites in that fixture.

Malawi: Dangerous newcomers with world-class forwards

Malawi will be making history by appearing at WAFCON for the first time, but they are far from ordinary newcomers.

The Scorchers have one of Africa’s most exciting attacking partnerships in sisters Tabitha Chawinga of Olympique Lyonnais and Temwa Chawinga of Kansas City Current. Both are among the best forwards in women’s football and have consistently scored goals in Europe and the United States.

Their attack is strengthened further by overseas-based players such as Rose Kabzere and Faith Chinzimu, giving Malawi plenty of pace on the counterattack.

To improve their tactical organisation, the Football Association of Malawi recently added experienced South African coach Dillon Singh to work alongside head coach Lovemore Fazili.

Despite their attacking quality, Malawi still have weaknesses. Their defence has looked vulnerable against stronger opponents, as shown by their 5-0 defeat to Australia during the 2026 FIFA Women’s Series. They also depend heavily on the Chawinga sisters to create moments of magic.

Nigeria will face Malawi in the opening match of the tournament, making it a potentially tricky contest. Opening games are often unpredictable, and Malawi will arrive with little pressure and plenty of confidence.

Recent meetings at youth level also suggest the gap is narrowing. In May 2026, Nigeria’s Falconets needed a 3-2 aggregate victory over Malawi in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers, with Malawi winning the second leg 2-1 in Lilongwe.

Although Nigeria will be favourites because of their experience and stronger defence, the Super Falcons will need to keep a close watch on the Chawinga sisters throughout the match.

Zambia: The biggest threat to Nigeria in Group C

Among Nigeria’s three opponents, Zambia are the strongest challengers.

The Copper Queens have developed into one of Africa’s top women’s teams over the past few years and have gained valuable experience by playing at both the FIFA Women’s World Cup and the Olympic Games.

Head coach Nora Häuptle has continued to improve the team through high-level friendly matches against countries such as Canada and Brazil, helping Zambia become more organised than in previous years.

Their greatest strength lies in attack. Captain Barbra Banda of Orlando Pride and Racheal Kundananji of Bay FC form one of the fastest and most dangerous strike partnerships in women’s football. Their speed, strength and finishing ability make them capable of troubling any defence.

However, Zambia still have weaknesses. Their midfield sometimes struggles to control matches, forcing defenders to play long balls towards the forwards. Their defence has also shown signs of vulnerability, especially when opponents press aggressively, as seen in their 4-0 defeat to Canada earlier this year.

Zambia reached new heights by winning the bronze medal at the 2022 WAFCON, including a memorable 1-0 victory over Nigeria in the third-place match. They qualified for the 2026 tournament after comfortably defeating Namibia 7-2 on aggregate.

Their meeting with Nigeria on August 1 is expected to decide who finishes top of Group C. The Super Falcons will enter the match with confidence after defeating Zambia 5-0 in the knockout stage of the previous WAFCON. However, Banda and Kundananji have continued to improve, and Zambia now look stronger and more experienced.

If Nigeria can stop Zambia’s deadly attack, they will take a huge step towards winning the group. But any lapse in concentration could allow the Copper Queens to produce the biggest result of the tournament.