Cameroon eliminated defending champions Nigeria from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday, beating the Super Falcons 1-0 in Casablanca to reach the semi-finals and book a spot at the 2027 World Cup.
The result carries weight beyond the scoreline. The four WAFCON quarter-final winners qualify automatically for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, so Nigeria’s exit means the Super Falcons must now navigate a play-off route to reach the tournament they won two years ago.
Nineteen-year-old Myriam Nyadjou scored the only goal of the match at Larbi Zaouli Stadium, a first-half strike that held up despite sustained Nigerian pressure. Goalkeeper Michaely Bihina anchored the win, denying Nigeria repeatedly, including a stretching save to keep out Ochenna Kanu’s header in the 70th minute and a tip over the bar from an Achta Njoya free kick six minutes from time.
The win breaks a lopsided pattern in the fixture. Nigeria had won nine of the sides’ previous 13 WAFCON meetings and eliminated Cameroon in four straight editions of the tournament, including the 2022 quarter-final in the same city. Sunday marked only Cameroon’s second victory over Nigeria in the competition’s history.
Nigeria came closest to an equaliser in stoppage time. A defensive mistake in the 93rd minute sent Esther Okoronkwo through on goal, and her attempt to lift the ball past Bihina drifted just wide, sealing Cameroon’s passage.
Cameroon joins Morocco, which beat South Africa 2-1 in Rabat, and Algeria, which knocked out Ivory Coast, in the last four. The final quarter-final pits Ghana against Malawi in Rabat, with a semi-final berth and a World Cup ticket also on the line.
