Super Falcons Must Beat Egypt to Reach Quarter-finals

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Four days after boosting their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations hopes with a hard-fought win over Zambia, the Super Falcons are back in action on Wednesday. Another win is crucial if they want to secure a spot in the quarter-finals and defend their title.

Nigeria’s path in Morocco has not been easy. They suffered a surprising 3-2 loss to tournament newcomers Malawi in their first Group C match. This put the defending champions close to an early exit until they bounced back with a 1-0 win over Zambia, even while playing most of the match with only 10 players.

Now, the 10-time African champions must beat Egypt in their last group game in Rabat. They also need to hope that the result of the other Group C match between Malawi and Zambia goes in their favor.

Winning would give Nigeria six points, but they might still rely on the outcomes of other matches in the group.

Madugu Faces Selection Changes

Head coach Justin Madugu has more tough choices to make after losing two key players to suspension.

Galatasaray defender Oluwatosin Demehin is out after receiving a red card against Zambia for bringing down Barbra Banda when the Copper Queens captain was clear on goal. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Jennifer Echegini is also missing after picking up yellow cards in Nigeria’s first two games.

Madugu’s tactical changes worked well against Zambia, but he is expected to make more adjustments for the game against Egypt. Christy Ucheibe, who did well in central defense after Demehin’s red card, is likely to team up with veteran Osinachi Ohale in defense.

In midfield, Toni Payne looks set to replace Echegini alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade. Halimatu Ayinde might also return to strengthen the midfield.

Up front, Uchenna Kanu is pushing for a starting spot after making a mark from the bench against Malawi. Six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala will also be keen to build on her match-winning goal against Zambia.

Egypt Aiming to End on a High

Egypt is already out of the race for the quarter-finals after suffering heavy defeats in their first two matches. However, the Female Pharaohs are determined to finish their campaign positively.

They lost 6-0 to Zambia and then fell 3-1 to group leaders Malawi. Still, the Super Falcons are not taking anything for granted against a team with nothing to lose.

Group C Scenarios

The fight for qualification is still very close as the final round approaches. Malawi is on top of the group with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia both have three.

If Nigeria beats Egypt and Zambia wins against Malawi, all three teams would end up with six points. In this case, the Confederation of African Football’s rules, including head-to-head results and goal difference, would decide which two teams move on to the quarter-finals.

History Favors the Super Falcons

Nigeria has a strong record against Egypt in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The two teams have met only once in the tournament, when the Super Falcons defeated the Female Pharaohs 6-0 during the group stage of the 1998 edition held in Nigeria.

While history is on Nigeria’s side, Madugu’s team knows that past results will not matter when they take the field. After a shaky start to their campaign, the Super Falcons have one last chance to show they are serious contenders for an 11th WAFCON title and to keep their hopes for another FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification alive.