By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
Nigeria will start their bid to defend the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) crown with a tricky two-legged tie against neighbours Benin Republic in October.
The Super Falcons, 10-time champions and winners of the last edition in Morocco, will play the first leg away before hosting the She-Cheetahs in Nigeria between Oct. 20–28.
Coach Justine Madugu’s team go into the clash as favourites, but Benin have already shown resilience in the qualifiers, edging Sierra Leone 5-2 on aggregate after winning both legs on neutral ground.
Elsewhere, Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses face a tough hurdle against Algeria, while South Africa will square off with DR Congo.
Zambia, semi-finalists in Morocco, are drawn against Namibia, and Ghana will meet Egypt.
The winners of all 11 final round ties will qualify for Morocco 2026, joining the hosts.
The tournament will not only decide the next African champions but also serve as qualifiers for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the top four securing automatic slots.
Final Round Fixtures (Oct 20–28, 2025) are:
Angola vs Malawi
DR Congo vs South Africa
Tanzania vs Ethiopia
Namibia vs Zambia
Burkina Faso vs Togo
Algeria vs Cameroon
Egypt vs Ghana
Kenya vs Gambia
Benin Republic vs Nigeria
Cape Verde vs Mali
Senegal vs Ivory Coast
