Cup holders and 10-time champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, top the list of African heavyweights who look set to book their places at next year’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals, the 14th edition of which will be hosted by the Kingdom of Morocco.

The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco, who finished runners-up in the last two editions they hosted — losing to South Africa in 2022 and to Nigeria earlier this year — have already qualified automatically as hosts of the 2026 tournament, which will run from March 17 to April 3, 2026.

While Nigeria underlined their dominance in African women’s football with a 2–0 first-leg win over the Amazons of Benin Republic in Lome on Friday, Zambia, who were humbled by the Falcons in the last tournament, triumphed 4–2 away to Namibia in Windhoek and are firm favourites to complete the job at home in Ndola on Tuesday.

Elsewhere, Ghana’s Black Queens cruised to a 3–0 victory over Egypt in Cairo and will look to finish the job in Accra, while Mali’s senior women eked out a narrow 1–0 win away to Cape Verde in Praia.

Other notable results saw Angola and Malawi play out a goalless draw in Luanda, just as Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire shared the spoils (0–0) in Dakar. Kenya’s Harambee Starlets defeated The Gambia 3–1 in Nairobi, and Algeria edged Cameroon 2–1 in a tightly contested fixture.

Burkina Faso and Tanzania also have one foot in the next round after recording 2–0 first-leg wins over Togo and Ethiopia respectively, while South Africa’s Banyana Banyana secured a valuable 1–1 away draw against the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The second legs of all ties will be played between Sunday and Tuesday, with Ethiopia hosting Tanzania in Addis Ababa before the other 10 fixtures take centre stage on Tuesday.

Nigeria will host Benin Republic at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, on Tuesday from 4 p.m., carrying a two-goal cushion courtesy of Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo, who were both on target in the first leg.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has appointed Dominique Rosa Hanjavola of Madagascar as the centre referee, assisted by Claris Simango (Zimbabwe) and Hasimbola Rasoloniaina (Madagascar), while Grace Gimo (Zimbabwe) will serve as fourth official. Christine Ziga of Ghana will act as match commissioner, with Ndeye Fatou Seye of Senegal as referee assessor.

With dominant first-leg performances across several venues, the stage is set for the continent’s powerhouses — led by Nigeria, Ghana, Zambia, and Mali — to confirm their places in Morocco 2026, where the battle for continental supremacy will once again unfold.

2026 WAFCON Final Qualifying Fixtures: First Leg Results

• Bénin Republic 0-2 Nigeria
• Angola 0-0 Malawi
• DR Congo 1-1 South Africa
• Tanzania 2-0 Ethiopia
• Namibia 2-4 Zambia
• Burkina Faso 2-0 Togo
• Algeria 2-1 Cameroon
• Egypt 0-3 Ghana
• Kenya 3-1 Gambia
• Cape Verde 0-1 Mali

Senegal 0-0 Cote d’Ivoire 

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Reigning African champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, took a firm step toward qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) after a 2-0 victory over Benin Republic in the first leg of their qualifying tie played on Friday in Lomé, Togo.

Goals from Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo in the first half sealed the win for the nine-time African champions, who dominated the encounter from start to finish.

Nigeria started brightly, with Rasheedat Ajibade coming close in the sixth minute when her clever lob beat goalkeeper Ogoun but bounced off the crossbar. Two minutes later, Folashade Ijamilusi’s fierce shot was palmed away by the Beninese goalkeeper as the pressure mounted.

The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Deborah Abiodun, instrumental in midfield, split the Benin defence with a precise pass to Ihezuo, who calmly finished beyond the onrushing Ogoun to give the Super Falcons a deserved lead.

Benin’s Amazons managed their first real chance in the 36th minute when Moumouni weaved past Osinachi Ohale and forced a save from Chiamaka Nnadozie, but Nigeria quickly reasserted control. Just before halftime, Abiodun once again orchestrated the play, finding Okoronkwo with another incisive pass. The striker made no mistake, slotting home to double Nigeria’s advantage.

Benin almost pulled one back moments before the break when Moumouni’s strike hit the post, but the Super Falcons held on to a 2-0 lead at halftime.

The second half saw a more cautious contest as both coaches made tactical changes. Benin pressed higher in search of a lifeline, but Nigeria’s defence remained resolute, marshalled by goalkeeper Nnadozie, who made a crucial save in the 90th minute to deny Sadikou’s header from close range.

The result gives Nigeria a healthy advantage heading into the return leg, which will take place at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Abeokuta, on Tuesday, where the Falcons will look to finish the job and book their place at next year’s WAFCON.

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The 25,000-capacity Stade de Kégué in Lomé, Togo, will host another chapter in the Nigeria–Benin football rivalry on Friday, when 10-time African champions, the Super Falcons, take on the Benin Republic’s Amazons in the first leg of their final qualifying fixture for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

For the Falcons, the mission is clear — to secure a commanding victory similar to the 4-0 thrashing their male counterparts, the Super Eagles, handed the Beninese side in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers earlier this year. The Cup holders are determined to make the return leg in Nigeria next Tuesday a mere formality.

Head Coach Justine Madugu, who has 19 players in camp, expressed confidence that his team will deliver another performance worthy of Nigeria’s football pedigree.

“We have a team that will go out there and make us proud,” Madugu said ahead of the game. “Yes, we would have loved to have Jennifer (Echegini), but we can only pray for her quick recovery. On Friday, we will play our game and seek the goals that will put us in good stead ahead of the return leg.”

With Echegini sidelined by injury, Madugu is expected to deploy U.S.-based Deborah Abiodun in midfield alongside captain Rasheedat Ajibade and Christy Ucheibe. In goal, Chiamaka Nnadozie — widely rated among the best in the world — will lead a defence comprising Michelle Alozie, Tosin Demehin, Osinachi Ohale, and Ashley Plumptre.

In attack, Nigeria’s hopes rest on a potent forward line featuring six-time African Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Joy Omewa, and China-based Folashade Ijamilusi, who impressed in the Falcons’ title-winning campaign in Morocco this summer.

The match kicks off at 3 p.m. local time (4 p.m. Nigeria time) with Gambian referee Ngum Fatou in charge.

Next year’s WAFCON, also to be staged in Morocco, will serve as the gateway to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with all semi-finalists earning automatic qualification. For the Super Falcons, however, the immediate goal is to assert continental dominance once more — and perhaps, just like the Super Eagles, put four past their Beninese neighbours to make a statement of intent.

SUPER FALCONS TO FACE AMAZONS:

Goalkeepers: Chiamaka Nnadozie (Brighton Hove & Albion, England); Anderline Mgbechi (Rivers Angels)

Defenders: Osinachi Ohale (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Shukurat Oladipo (AS Roma, Italy); Michelle Alozie (Houston Dash, USA); Ashleigh Plumptre (Ittihad Ladies FC, Saudi Arabia); Blessing Ilivieda (Bayelsa Queens); Oluwatosin Demehin (Galatasaray Sportive, Turkey); Miracle Usani (Abia Angels)

Midfielders: Rasheedat Ajibade (Paris Saint Germain, France); Taiwo Afolabi (Rivers Angels); Deborah Abiodun (Washington Spirit, USA); Christy Ucheibe (SL Benfica, Portugal)

Forwards: Chinwendu Ihezuo (Pachucha Club de Futbol, Mexico); Joy Omewa (Fortuna Hjorrin FC, Denmark); Esther Okoronkwo (AFC Toronto, Canada); Asisat Oshoala (Al Hilal FC, Saudi Arabia); Folashade Ijamilusi (Liaoning Shenyang Shenbei Hefeng, China); Kafayat Mafisere (Edo Queens)

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