Four days after a shocking loss in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Falcons are back at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat. They now find themselves in a tough spot.
Nigeria's surprising 3-2 defeat to Malawi, who are playing in their first tournament, has turned what should have been an easy Group C campaign into a fight to stay in the competition. Now, the defending champions must face a strong Zambia team that recently defeated Egypt 6-0 in a powerful display.
For the Super Falcons, there is no room for mistakes. They must win or risk an early exit from the tournament.
A painful wake-up call
Very few thought Nigeria would lose to Malawi in their first match.
The ten-time African champions seemed to be in control for much of the game. But they made costly defensive mistakes that the Chawinga sisters took full advantage of.
Temwa Chawinga scored first, and captain Tabitha Chawinga added another goal to give Malawi a two-goal lead. Rasheedat Ajibade scored a penalty to give Nigeria hope, but Temwa quickly restored Malawi's two-goal cushion. Uchenna Kanu scored late, but it was not enough as Nigeria faced a historic defeat.
This loss shook Nigerian football. Fans and critics are questioning the team’s tactics and player selections.
Head coach Justin Madugu defended his choices, saying that criticism is normal after a loss. He reminded everyone that the same coaching staff led Nigeria to success just a few months ago.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie took responsibility for the poor performance, stating that the team is still mentally strong despite the backlash. Substitute Uchenna Kanu urged fans to keep believing in the team, promising they are ready to make things right.
Nothing less than victory
Saturday’s match is crucial not just for the WAFCON title.
This year, the tournament has 16 teams split into four groups, with only the top two teams moving on to the quarter-finals. Unlike past tournaments, there is no chance for third-place teams to qualify.
The stakes are even higher because this tournament is also how African teams qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
The four semi-finalists will automatically qualify, while the four losing quarter-finalists will play for two additional spots in the intercontinental qualifiers. This means Africa could have six teams at the World Cup.
For Nigeria, this is a huge deal. The Super Falcons are the only African nation and one of just seven worldwide that have made it to every FIFA Women’s World Cup since it started in 1991.
An early exit would put that impressive record at risk. Coach Madugu has made it clear that only a win will do against Zambia.
Zambia arrive full of confidence
While Nigeria is looking for answers after their loss to Malawi, Zambia has shown they can be serious contenders for the title with their stunning 6-0 win over Egypt.
Captain Barbra Banda had an amazing game, scoring four goals, including two penalties, and assisting another. Racheal Nachula also scored from the penalty spot, and Eneless Phiri rounded off the scoring in stoppage time.
Even though Racheal Kundananji did not score, she played a key role by creating two goals for Banda while constantly challenging the Egyptian defense.
This result gave Zambia their biggest win in WAFCON history and has made Banda a top contender for the Golden Boot.
Battle of Africa’s biggest attacking stars
Saturday’s match will likely be a showdown between two of Africa's best attacking units.
Zambia will rely on the strong partnership of Banda and Kundananji, whose speed and skill caused problems for Egypt in their first match.
Nigeria’s attack will depend on captain Rasheedat Ajibade, whose leadership is crucial, and Uchenna Kanu, whose late impact against Malawi was one of the few highlights from that game.
The Super Falcons need to be much more efficient after missing several chances in their opening game.
Zambia refuse to underestimate Nigeria
Despite Zambia’s big win over Egypt, head coach Nora Häuptle is cautious about underestimating Nigeria after their loss.
The Swiss coach believes Nigeria created enough opportunities to win against Malawi and expects a stronger performance from them.
She also reminded her players of Zambia's tough 5-0 defeat to Nigeria in the last WAFCON, saying they have improved since then after playing several strong international teams.
When asked if a draw would be acceptable, Häuptle rejected that idea, stating that Zambia will go for the win.
Forward Racheal Kundananji reflected her coach’s confidence, saying this match could shape the rest of Group C.
She said Zambia knows the challenge ahead but is ready, adding that beating Nigeria would show how far Zambian women's football has come after their World Cup and Olympic appearances.
Häuptle revealed her team has been working hard to balance their attacking style with better defense, especially against Nigeria’s skilled midfielders.
History favours Nigeria
While Zambia comes into the match with momentum, history favors Nigeria.
The Super Falcons crushed Zambia 6-0 in the 2014 WAFCON and won 4-0 in 2018.
Zambia finally broke that streak with a 1-0 win in the 2022 third-place playoff, but Nigeria responded strongly with a 5-0 victory in the quarter-finals of the 2025 tournament.
Past results won’t matter when the match kicks off in Rabat.
For Nigeria, this is more than just a group match. It is a chance to prove doubters wrong, defend their title, and maintain their impressive World Cup qualification record that has lasted over 30 years.
For Zambia, this is a chance to show they are rising in African football and to take a major step towards leading Group C.
In this match, everything is at stake.
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