Oshoala calls for support after Falcons' defeat

Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has asked Nigerians to keep supporting the team. They are aiming to bounce back after their surprising opening loss to Malawi at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, according to PUNCH Sports Extra.

Malawi, in their first tournament, shocked everyone on Tuesday. They defeated 10-time champions Nigeria 3-2 in a thrilling match in Rabat.

The Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, played a key role in this memorable win for Malawi. Temwa scored twice, showing the weaknesses of Africa’s top women’s national team.

Oshoala started the game on the bench and came in for Esther Okoronkwo in the 83rd minute. But the experienced striker could not change the outcome, even as Nigeria tried to rally before Malawi scored again.

Looking ahead to the next two group matches, the 31-year-old believes there is still time for the team to bounce back. “It’s still a long competition, so there is still a lot of time to prepare for the next game,” she told reporters after the match.

“We need their support right now. A World Cup ticket is at stake and this is the time we need everyone to support the team. We know the Super Eagles didn’t qualify, so we know what’s at stake and we know how Nigerians feel about this.”

Oshoala, a six-time winner of the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award and a major figure in African women’s football, recognized that the gap between Nigeria and other nations is getting smaller.

“Smaller nations are closing the gap for sure, but it’s also a wake-up call for us to put in more effort, knowing that there are other teams who want to win this trophy as well,” Oshoala said.

Currently, the Super Falcons are third in Group C without any points. They will play group leaders Zambia on Saturday and then face Egypt to finish their group matches.

Nigeria must win both games to secure a spot in the quarter-finals. Doing so will also put them in a position to qualify for the last four, which would earn the team a place in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.