Nigeria’s Super Falcons have set the standard for women’s football in Africa with an unmatched record of 10 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles. The team lifted the trophy in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2024, while maintaining a flawless record of winning every WAFCON final they have reached. As defending champions, they head to Morocco for the 2026 edition determined to add an unprecedented 11th title to their remarkable legacy.
Few national teams anywhere in the world can boast the kind of consistency the Super Falcons have displayed for almost three decades. Their perfect record in WAFCON finals reflects years of excellence, resilience and dominance despite changes in generations of players, coaches and host nations. Time after time, Nigeria has remained the team every other African side measures itself against.
The journey began in 1998 when Nigeria hosted the first CAF-organised WAFCON tournament under its full competition format. The Super Falcons announced themselves in spectacular fashion, thrashing Morocco 8-0 in the group stage before defeating DR Congo 6-0 in the semi-finals. Ghana stood in the way of the title, but Nigeria secured a comfortable 2-0 victory to claim the country’s first official continental championship and launch an era of dominance.
Two years later in South Africa, the defending champions proved their first triumph was no fluke. Playing against the hosts in Johannesburg, Nigeria produced another disciplined display to record a 2-0 victory and successfully defend the title, confirming their superiority beyond home soil.
The 2002 tournament returned to Nigeria, where the Super Falcons once again met Ghana in the final. The familiar rivalry ended in familiar fashion as Nigeria won 2-0 to complete a historic hat trick of consecutive WAFCON titles, further strengthening their position as Africa’s leading women’s national team.
Their dominance reached another level in 2004 in South Africa. Facing Cameroon in the final, Nigeria delivered one of the most one sided performances ever seen in a championship match, cruising to an emphatic 5-0 victory. Perpetua Nkwocha played a starring role throughout the tournament, continuing the form that would eventually establish her as WAFCON’s all time leading scorer.
Nigeria made it five straight titles in 2006 after edging Ghana 1-0 in a closely contested final played on home ground. The victory ensured the Super Falcons remained unbeaten in every official WAFCON tournament since the competition adopted its modern format in 1998.
Although Equatorial Guinea interrupted Nigeria’s reign by winning the 2008 tournament, the Super Falcons wasted little time reclaiming their crown. At the 2010 championship in South Africa, they defeated Equatorial Guinea 4-2 in an entertaining final. Nkwocha produced one of the greatest individual performances in tournament history by scoring 11 goals, a record that still stands.
A fresh generation of stars emerged at the 2014 tournament in Namibia. Nigeria defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the final to capture a seventh continental title, while Asisat Oshoala’s outstanding displays earned her the Player of the Tournament award and signalled the arrival of one of Africa’s brightest football talents.
The 2016 edition presented another stern challenge as Nigeria faced hosts Cameroon before a packed crowd in Yaoundé. Despite the intimidating atmosphere, the Super Falcons kept their composure and secured a narrow 1-0 victory to lift their eighth WAFCON trophy, once again proving their ability to thrive under pressure.
Perhaps the toughest final came in Ghana in 2018. After 120 minutes failed to separate Nigeria and South Africa, the contest was decided from the penalty spot. The Super Falcons held their nerve to win the shootout 4-3, sealing a ninth African title and preserving their perfect record in championship matches.
Their most memorable triumph arrived in the 2024 tournament, which was played in 2025 in Morocco. Facing the host nation in the final, Nigeria found themselves two goals behind before producing an extraordinary comeback. Jennifer Echegini scored the decisive late winner as the Super Falcons completed a dramatic 3-2 victory to capture their historic 10th WAFCON title. Following the team’s return to Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu honoured every player and member of the technical crew with the Officer of the Order of the Niger national award, a three bedroom apartment and a $100,000 cash grant in recognition of their achievement.
Beyond the trophies, Nigeria’s numbers underline the team’s extraordinary success. The Super Falcons have won 10 WAFCON championships from 10 finals, giving them a perfect success rate in title matches. Across the competition, they have played 79 games, recording 62 victories, 10 draws and only seven defeats. They have also scored 237 goals, making them the highest scoring team in the tournament’s history, well ahead of South Africa, whose total stands at 111 goals.
As WAFCON 2026 gets underway in Morocco, the Super Falcons once again carry the weight of expectation as defending champions. Their rich history, unmatched winning mentality and decades of excellence make them the team to beat. Every opponent knows the challenge ahead, while Nigeria’s focus remains firmly fixed on writing another chapter by capturing an unprecedented 11th continental crown.
