The Super Falcons of Nigeria, defending champions of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), have been drawn into Group C of the 2026 tournament following the official draw held on Wednesday at the Mohammed VI Football Complex in Rabat.
The 2026 edition marks a historic milestone for African women’s football, as WAFCON expands to 16 teams for the first time, signaling the competition’s growing stature across the continent.
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Nigeria will contest Group C alongside Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi, setting up a series of intriguing matchups as the Falcons begin their title defense.
A Challenging Group C Line-Up
Seeded as C1 based on their FIFA ranking and illustrious tournament history, Nigeria enter the group as favorites, but not without significant hurdles.
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Zambia, runners-up at WAFCON 2024, bring pace, power, and attacking flair through the Copper Queens, who have developed a fierce rivalry with Nigeria in recent years.
Egypt return to the continental stage after an impressive qualification campaign, offering defensive discipline and a new generation of emerging talent.
Malawi, making their debut at this level, arrive as underdogs but will be eager to upset established powers with their resilient, high-energy style.
Tournament Structure and Seedings
Hosts Morocco headline Group A, while the tournament seedings were distributed across four pots:
Pot 1: Morocco (A1), Nigeria (C1), South Africa, Ghana
Pot 2: Zambia, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Algeria
Pot 3: Senegal, Mali, Egypt, Burkina Faso
Pot 4: Cape Verde, Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi
The expanded format promises a more competitive group stage, with increased opportunities for emerging nations to make an impact.
World Cup Qualification on the Line
Scheduled to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026, across multiple venues in Morocco, WAFCON 2026 also serves as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The four semi-finalists will automatically secure World Cup berths, adding significant stakes to every knockout-round fixture.
Nigeria are chasing a record-extending 12th WAFCON title, having lifted the trophy at the 2024 edition.
