Badu Scores Crucial Goal as NSL Players Progress at WAFCON
By Nii Wallace-Bruce
The opening chapters of the Northern Super League's WAFCON story were about presence. Matchday Three was about progression.
As the group stage concluded across Morocco, the league's representatives found themselves in settled roles, helping guide their countries into the knockout rounds.
Nigeria Able To Rest Okoronkwo
For Nigeria, qualification from Group C was in their hands before their final group match. Defeat already eliminated Egypt and they would be virtually assured of progress.
The 2026 Super Falcons jersey features ten stars for each of their previous WAFCON titles. Nigeria underlined their tournament credentials as they dismantled Egypt 6-2.
The performance gave the Super Falcons the luxury few teams enjoy at a major tournament: resting key players. Among them was AFC Toronto forward Esther Okoronkwo.
Nigeria’s depth allowed them to grant a tournament debut to Washington Spirit forward Gift Monday, while rotating players and dealing with multiple suspensions.
With the quarter-finals ahead, the Super Falcons managed minutes without weakening their ambitions of another continental title.
One complication is that the Super Falcons have ended up in the tougher half of the knockout rounds, with 2025 semi-finalists Morocco and South Africa.
However, Justine Madugu’s squad has proven that it is capable of engineering results in major tournaments as required.
Badu and Ghana Head Towards Final Eight
Elsewhere, Ghana's progress carried a distinctly NSL flavour.
Montréal Roses attacker Evelyn Badu made her first start and delivered the decisive goal in a 1-1 draw Mali, sealing the Black Queens return to the knockout rounds on goal difference. It was another significant contribution from a player who has steadily grown into the tournament and continues to reward the confidence placed in her.
After the match, coach Lars Kim Björkegren gave effusive praise for Badu’s contributions for Ghana’s Black Queens.
After Matchday Two, Badu talked up Ghana's ability to deliver. She followed up those words with a pinpoint header from Comfort Yeboah’s cross in first half stoppage time.
Her celebration and dance was a nod to Black Stars legend Asamoah Gyan.
While Mali equalised immediately after the break from a free-kick, Badu continued to create and find space.
She seemed to have found the winning goal in the 71st minute only for VAR to pull it back - echoes of a similar outcome against Cameroon in the previous matchday.
There are encouraging signs beneath the results. While Ghana have struggled to convert periods of dominance into victories, there are encouraging signs defensively.
Ghana have yet to concede from open play in regulation time, with their defensive organisation largely holding firm.
The Black Queens have yet to concede from open play, with only a penalty from Cameroon and a direct free kick by Mali breaching their defence.
This is a detail Björkegren will know must be addressed before the quarter-finals.
Nevertheless, Badu is showing strong form carrying over from her club performances and that will give both Montréal and Ghana hope and excitement for upcoming matches.
Owusu-Ansah Makes Third Appearance
While Badu grabbed the headlines, Linda Owusu-Ansah’s tournament continues to follow a different but equally encouraging trajectory.
The AFC Toronto midfielder replaced Badu in the final section as the Black Queens closed out a positive result. Valuable minutes in another high-pressure fixture.
For a player earning valuable senior tournament experience, each appearance represents another step in a steadily rapid ascent. That trajectory may extend beyond Morocco.
A source close to the Ghana camp confirmed to PSP Media that Owusu-Ansah is in contention for selection to Ghana's squad for the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup in Poland later this year. Should she be selected, it would mark another milestone in a remarkable period of development, one that has accelerated since joining the Northern Super League.
Looking Ahead
As WAFCON shifts from the caution of the group stage to the intensity of knockout football, the narrative surrounding the league's representatives is evolving as well.
For Northern Super League fans, Sunday will be appointment viewing.
Nigeria will continue their quest for back-to-back titles in the quarter-finals against neighbouring Cameroon. History favours Nigeria.
The Super Falcons have repeatedly eliminated Cameroon in WAFCON knockout football, reinforcing their status as one of the continent's benchmark sides.
Later in the day, Ghana’s Black Queens will take on tournament debutants Malawi, a team they defeated 4-0 in a pre-tournament friendly.
Despite this familiarity, Badu believes her team must look forward and not read too much into that result, particularly when Malawi defeated Nigeria in their first ever WAFCON match on Matchday One.
Ghana’s Black Queens have eyes on the prize(s) after the Matchday Three (Photo credit: Abdul Razak Mahmud)
Beyond WAFCON
The prize for victory is not just a ticket to the semi-finals. Each team that makes it to the final four will also earn qualification for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
However, each quarter-final loser will play-off for two remaining spots. However, the dual goal of short-term advancement and future qualification is highly motivating.
For the likes of Okoronkwo, Badu and Owusu-Ansah, this is their chance to leave their mark on the tournament when the lights are the brightest.
Every highlight they create also shines a light on the Northern Super League and its influence. They are no longer simply part of the tournament.
Increasingly, they are helping shape it.
Sources:
Lars Kim Björkegren, Ghana Head Coach, press conference, 6 August 2026
Evelyn Badu, Ghana midfielder, media scrum, 2 August 2026
Evelyn Badu, Ghana midfielder, media scrum, 6 August 2026
Anonymous source, personal interview, 5 August 2026
ESPN, “Nigeria may have hit six past Egypt, and reached WAFCON QFs, but they were far from their best", Colin Udoh, 6 August 2026
Video Credits:
CAF, Evelyn Badu goal, 6 August 2026 via Twitter @cafwomensfootball
Photo Credits:
Evelyn Badu, Abdul Razak Mahmud, 6 August 2026 - Photo courtesy of Abdul Razak Mahmud
All photos are used with permission. All rights reserved to the creator.
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