The Super Falcons’ shock quarter-final elimination by Cameroon has changed the entire complexion of the tournament. Why because, for the first time in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2026), Nigeria will not be walking out for the semi-finals.
The defending champions are gone, South Africa are also out, and for the first time in years, African women’s football is guaranteed to have a new continental champion.
Four teams remain.
Morocco have the home crowd behind them.
Cameroon are riding the biggest victory of their campaign.
Algeria are making history with every passing round.
And Malawi, ranked 153rd in the world before the tournament, are now just one victory away from a place in the final.
All four have also already achieved one of their biggest objectives: qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Now, there is only one prize left.
The WAFCON trophy.
And the road to it could not be more unpredictable.
WAFCON 2026: Nigeria’s Absence Changes Everything
Nigeria’s dominance of the WAFCON has been so overwhelming that the tournament almost seemed incomplete without them in the final stages.
The Super Falcons have won the competition 10 times and had reached the semi-finals in every previous edition they contested.
That extraordinary run ended when Cameroon defeated them 1-0 in the quarter-finals.
It was more than an upset.
It was a changing of the guard.
Cameroon’s victory not only ended Nigeria’s title defence but also guaranteed that a new champion will be crowned in Morocco.
South Africa, who had also been among the tournament favourites, suffered elimination at the hands of the hosts.
The result leaves four teams who all have legitimate reasons to believe that this could finally be their moment.
Morocco: The Favourites Carrying an Entire Nation
If there is…
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Read Full Article by Tumininu Yussuf at brila.net
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