By Ghazali Ibrahim
Nigeria’s Super Falcons suffered a stunning 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening Group C match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), dealing a major blow to their bid for a record-extending 11th continental title.
The defending champions were caught off guard by an inspired Malawi side, who produced one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition to claim all three points in their first-ever WAFCON match.
Malawi raced into the lead before Nigeria fought back to level the contest, but the tournament newcomers continued to threaten and eventually restored their advantage.
Despite a late push by the Super Falcons, Malawi held on to secure a famous 3-2 victory.
The result leaves Nigeria under immediate pressure in Group C, with crucial fixtures against Zambia and Tunisia now likely to determine whether the ten-time African champions can progress to the knockout stage.
Speaking after the match, Super Falcons midfielder Esther Okoronkwo urged her teammates to remain focused despite the disappointing start, insisting the team must learn from the defeat and bounce back in their remaining group matches.
Head coach Justin Madugu also expressed confidence that the team would recover from the setback, describing the loss as painful but insisting the Super Falcons still have the quality to revive their title defence.
For Malawi, the victory marks a historic milestone, as the Scorchers celebrated a dream debut at the continental championship by defeating Africa’s most successful women’s national team. The result is expected to boost their confidence as they continue their maiden WAFCON campaign.
Nigeria will now be aiming for a swift response when they face Zambia in their next Group C fixture, knowing that another poor result could seriously threaten their hopes of retaining the continental crown.
