Nigeria needed a response, and they got one. Just four days after suffering one of the biggest shocks in Women’s Africa Cup of Nations history, the Super Falcons dug deep, fought down to ten players, and beat a rampant Zambia side to keep their WAFCON 2026 dream alive.
Backs Against The Wall
There was no hiding from the situation Nigeria walked into at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat. The reigning champions had stunned nobody more than themselves with a shock 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening game, a result that broke a long unbeaten record against first-time WAFCON participants. A loss to Zambia would have all but ended their group-stage campaign before it truly began.
Making matters more daunting, Zambia arrived full of confidence after a ruthless 6-0 demolition of Egypt in their own opener, with captain Barbra Banda scoring four goals in that rout and emerging as an early Golden Boot favourite. On paper, this looked like a genuine banana skin for a Super Falcons side under real pressure.
Oshoala Delivers Early
Head coach Justin Madugu made five changes for the must-win clash, restoring six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala to lead the line. The decision paid off almost immediately. In the eighth minute, captain Rasheedat Ajibade sprung a long ball forward, Oshoala raced onto it with pace that Zambia’s defence simply could not match, and she calmly finished past the goalkeeper to send Nigeria ahead.
It was exactly the start the Super Falcons needed, silencing the doubts that had followed them since the Malawi defeat and settling nerves inside the stadium.
Ten Women, One Mission
The match took a dramatic turn just before the break. Defender Tosin Demehin was initially shown a card for a challenge on Banda, and after a lengthy VAR review, the decision was upgraded to a straight red. Suddenly Nigeria faced the daunting task of protecting a one-goal lead with ten players for more than fifty minutes against one of the tournament’s most dangerous attacking sides.
What followed was pure grit. Zambia threw everything at the Super Falcons defence, but Nigeria held the line through disciplined organisation, timely interventions, and composed goalkeeping from Chiamaka Nnadozie, who had faced heavy criticism after the Malawi loss and was visibly emotional at the final whistle. Coach Madugu freshened his attack with substitutes including Uchenna Kanu, Esther Okoronkwo, and Chinwendu Ihezuo, giving Nigeria enough of a threat on the counter to keep Zambia honest until the very end.
Why This Result Matters
The three points lift Nigeria into second place in Group C, level with Zambia but holding the head-to-head advantage after this result. It also marks the Super Falcons’ fourth win over Zambia in WAFCON history, extending a dominant overall record against the Copper Queens that includes a 5-0 victory the last time these two sides met at the 2024 edition.
More importantly, it keeps alive Nigeria’s hopes of both defending their continental crown and qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, since WAFCON doubles as a qualifying tournament this cycle.
What Comes Next
The Super Falcons now turn their attention to Egypt on Wednesday, August 5, knowing a positive result will confirm their place in the knockout stages. After the heartbreak of the Malawi defeat and the grit shown against Zambia, Nigeria’s players have given their fans every reason to believe this title defence is far from over.
