Nigeria’s title defence ends at the quarter-final stage as Myriam Nyadjou’s 20th-minute strike sends Cameroon through and forces the Falcons into World Cup playoff route
Nigeria’s reign as African women’s football champions is over.
The Super Falcons were eliminated from the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Sunday after a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium, ending their title defence and complicating their path to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
How Cameroon ended Nigeria’s reign
The match was tightly contested from the start, with both sides engaging in physical defensive battles and fierce midfield exchanges before Cameroon broke the deadlock in the 20th minute through forward Myriam Nyadjou, whose strike proved to be the only goal of the encounter.
Nigeria struggled to respond, with Captain Rasheedat Ajibade attempting to orchestrate attacks through possession but the Super Falcons being largely restricted to long-range shots, unable to create clear scoring chances in the first half.
Cameroon emerged with renewed intensity after halftime, pressing higher and disrupting Nigeria’s build-up play. The Super Falcons pushed forward relentlessly, including deep into added time, but the Cameroonian defence held firm to secure a historic victory. The win marks Cameroon’s first knockout-stage victory over Nigeria in WAFCON since the 2012 third-place play-off.
What the defeat means for Nigeria’s World Cup hopes
The consequences of the defeat extend beyond the tournament. Cameroon’s top-four finish earns them an automatic berth in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil a qualification route now closed to Nigeria.
The Super Falcons must instead navigate the playoff route to keep their World Cup hopes alive, adding a significant hurdle to a campaign that had been expected to produce direct qualification through a strong WAFCON run.
Cameroon advance to the semi-finals where they will compete for a place in the WAFCON final and further cement their standing as one of the continent’s leading women’s football nations.
