Super Falcons face Cameroon in high-stake WAFCON quarter final
Nigeria’s senior women's national team will leave no room for sentiment when they face neighbours and fierce rivals Cameroon in a potentially explosive Women’s Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final in Casablanca on Sunday, with a ticket to next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup at stake.
The encounter brings the two West and Central African powerhouses together at a crucial stage of the competition, four years after Nigeria edged Cameroon 1-0 to secure qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. Rasheedat Ajibade scored the decisive second-half header that sent the Falcons through.
Cameroon have long been among Nigeria’s most familiar opponents — and most consistent victims — in the history of the Women’s AFCON. Their rivalry dates back to the inaugural edition in 1998, hosted by Nigeria, when the Lionesses suffered a heavy 6-0 defeat in Kaduna.
The two sides have also met in two memorable Women’s AFCON finals. In Windhoek on October 25, 2014, Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0, with Desire Oparanozie and Asisat Oshoala finding the net. Two years later, when Cameroon hosted the tournament, Oparanozie struck late to secure another narrow victory for the Falcons at the Stade Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaoundé.
Nigeria have continued to hold the upper hand in recent meetings. Earlier this year, the Falcons travelled to Yaoundé for a two-match tour. Cameroon claimed a rare 1-0 victory in the opening encounter, but Nigeria responded emphatically in the second leg, winning 3-1 through goals from Chinwendu Ihezuo, Rinsola Babajide and Michelle Alozie, all of whom are part of the squad in Casablanca.
The Falcons also defeated the Lionesses 2-0 in a friendly at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta last year, as part of preparations for their successful Mission X campaign.
Head coach Justin Madugu could retain much of the side that dismantled Egypt 6-2 in their final Group C fixture in Rabat on Wednesday, although veteran striker Asisat Oshoala could be handed a starting role after a series of influential performances in Morocco.
Oshoala scored the winning goal against a determined Zambia side in Nigeria’s second group match before converting from the penalty spot against Egypt. The highly decorated forward had also scored twice in Nigeria’s two friendly victories over Senegal in Ikenne-Remo before the tournament.
Madugu will also welcome back defender Tosin Demehin and midfielder Jennifer Echegini, who missed the Egypt encounter through suspension.
The coach insists Nigeria’s ambitions remain unchanged: qualification for the World Cup and another successful defence of their continental crown.
“Our objective remains picking the World Cup ticket and then going ahead to retain the trophy. Nothing has changed,” Madugu said.
Sunday’s decisive quarter-final is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca, a venue that holds fond memories for the Falcons after hosting most of their matches during their successful Mission X campaign a year ago.
With World Cup qualification on the line and a fierce regional rivalry adding further spice, Nigeria and Cameroon are set for another high-stakes chapter in one of African women’s football’s most enduring rivalries.
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