The Nigerian women's national football team, the Super Falcons, now know their path to defend their continental crown. The draw for the 2026 African Women's Nations Cup has placed them in a challenging but navigable group for the tournament in Morocco.
Group C Composition and Tournament Details
The Super Falcons have been placed in Group C of the expanded 2026 championship. They will compete against the Copper Queens of Zambia, Egypt, and Malawi. All matches for this group are scheduled to be played in the city of Casablanca.
As the highest-ranked team, Nigeria is the seeded side in the group. The tournament itself is set to run from March 17 to April 3, 2026, and will be historic as it features a record 16 nations, divided into four groups from A to D.
Complete Draw for Morocco 2026
The other groups were also finalized during the draw ceremony. Host nation Morocco leads Group A, which includes Algeria, Senegal, and Kenya. Group B is comprised of South Africa, Cote d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Tanzania. Meanwhile, Group D will see Ghana, Cameroon, Mali, and Cape Verde battle for supremacy.
High Stakes: The Road to the 2027 World Cup
The upcoming tournament carries significance beyond the continental title. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has confirmed that the four semifinalists will earn an automatic qualification ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, which will be hosted by Brazil.
This adds immense pressure and incentive for all competing teams, especially the Super Falcons, who will be eager to secure their World Cup place early by performing well in Morocco.
Defending Champions' Legacy
The Super Falcons enter this competition as the defending champions. They claimed the title in the last edition in 2023 by defeating the host nation, Morocco, in the final. This victory solidified their status as the most successful team in the history of the African Women's Nations Cup.
The draw presents a clear first hurdle in their quest to retain the trophy. Matches against Zambia, a rising force in African football, alongside North African contenders Egypt and determined underdogs Malawi, will test the team's depth and strategy from the very start of the tournament.
