WAFCON 2026 Draw Pits Super Falcons Against Zambia & Egypt
By FRED LONGJOHN OBEH
NIGERIA’S Super Falcons have discovered their group-stage opponents for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations following Thursday’s draw ceremony in Morocco.
The defending champions were placed in Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt and Malawi, setting up an intriguing mix of established rivals and new challengers. The group matches will be staged at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca, as the tournament runs from 17 March to 3 April.
The Super Falcons, nine-time African champions and winners of the last edition, will be aiming to extend their record haul to 11 WAFCON titles. Their pedigree and depth make them one of the favourites to lift the trophy again, but the group draw suggests a demanding path to the knockout rounds.
Zambia are widely regarded as one of the strongest teams in women’s football on the continent, while Egypt bring experience as regular participants at the tournament. Malawi, meanwhile, will make history by facing Nigeria for the first time ever in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The 2026 championship will also be the first to feature 16 teams, a major expansion designed to boost competitiveness and accelerate the development of women’s football across Africa.
For Nigeria, the focus will be on navigating the group stage efficiently while building momentum for the later rounds. With matches concentrated in Casablanca, consistency and squad rotation could prove decisive.
As preparations intensify, all eyes will be on the Super Falcons to see whether they can once again assert their dominance and defend their continental crown on Moroccan soil.
