Super Falcons Lead Charge as WAFCON Heavyweights Dominate First Leg

The race to qualify for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) is heating up, with continental powerhouses Nigeria, Zambia, Ghana, and Mali all taking commanding positions ahead of the final round of qualifiers.

The 14th edition of the tournament will be hosted by Morocco from March 17 to April 3, 2026, with the Atlas Lionesses already assured of a spot as hosts.

Morocco, who finished runners-up in both the 2022 and 2024 editions, losing to South Africa and Nigeria respectively, will be hoping to finally clinch the title on home soil.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons, the reigning champions and record 10-time winners, continued their dominance with a 2-0 away victory over Bénin Republic in Lome on Friday.

Goals from Chinwendu Ihezuo and Esther Okoronkwo gave the Falcons a comfortable cushion ahead of Tuesday’s return leg at the MKO Abiola Sports Complex in Abeokuta.

The Confederation of African Football has appointed Dominique Rosa Hanjavola from Madagascar as the match referee, supported by assistant referees Claris Simango and Hasimbola Rasoloniaina, and fourth official Grace Gimo.

Christine Ziga from Ghana will serve as match commissioner, while Ndeye Fatou Seye from Senegal will assess the officiating team.

Zambia, still smarting from a heavy defeat to Nigeria in the summer’s WAFCON final, bounced back with a thrilling 4-2 win over Namibia in Windhoek. They now hold the advantage heading into Tuesday’s second leg in Ndola.

Ghana’s Black Queens also impressed, cruising to a 3-0 win over Egypt in Cairo, while Mali secured a narrow 1-0 victory away to Cape Verde in Praia.

Elsewhere, Kenya defeated The Gambia 3-1 in Nairobi, and Algeria edged Cameroon 2-1 in a tightly contested affair. Burkina Faso and Tanzania both secured 2-0 wins over Togo and Ethiopia respectively, giving them solid leads ahead of their away fixtures.

South Africa’s Banyana Banyana were held to a 1-1 draw by the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa, while Angola and Malawi, as well as Senegal and Côte d’Ivoire, played out goalless draws in Luanda and Dakar.

The final round of return leg matches will be played on Tuesday, with Ethiopia hosting Tanzania in Addis Ababa on Sunday.