Super Falcons edge Zambia with Oshoala's early goal

Nigeria's Super Falcons showed great strength and focus on Saturday night. They beat the Copper Queens of Zambia 1-0 in an exciting WAFCON group match in Rabat.

A quick goal from star player Asisat Oshoala was the highlight of the night. Her early strike gave Nigeria all three points, even though they played most of the match with ten players. The Super Falcons pushed hard from the start. In the 8th minute, Oshoala received a sharp pass in the box and calmly scored past the Zambian keeper to put Nigeria ahead.

Things got tense towards the end of the first half. Defender Tosin Demehin got a yellow card for a challenge on Zambia's Barbra Banda. But after a long Video Assistant Referee (VAR) review, the card was taken back because of an offside in the build-up. Then, in the 40th minute, Demehin and Banda clashed again. This time, Demehin got a second yellow card and was sent off, leaving Nigeria with ten players just before halftime.

Even with one player down, Head Coach Justin Madugu made smart changes to keep the team organized. Defender Shukurat Oladipo came on early in the second half to replace debutant Rofiat Imuran.

The Super Falcons faced a lot of pressure from the Copper Queens in the second half. But they stayed dangerous on the break with players like Uchenna Kanu and substitute Esther Okoronkwo.

Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and her defense stood strong against the late pressure. They managed to secure a win, marking back-to-back victories over Zambia in this tournament.

Next up, the Super Falcons will play Egypt on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The Egyptian team is looking for their first points after losing their first two games.