Nigeria’s Super Falcons revived their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title defense with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday, bouncing back from their disappointing opening-day loss to Malawi.
The decisive moment of the match came early in the first half. Star forward Asisat Oshoala found the back of the net in the eighth minute, giving head coach Justin Madugu’s side a crucial lead. Despite the dream start, the reigning champions had to dig deep after being reduced to 10 players shortly before the halftime interval.
Defensive Resilience Under Pressure
Faced with a numerical disadvantage for the entire second half, the Super Falcons displayed immense tactical discipline and defensive grit. Zambia pushed aggressively for an equalizer, but the Nigerian backline held firm to secure three invaluable points and keep their tournament hopes alive.
Crucial Group C Finale Awaits
With this victory, Nigeria’s path to the quarter-finals remains in their own hands. The Super Falcons now prepare for a decisive final group-stage clash against Egypt, where a victory will officially seal their spot in the knockout stages.
Egypt is currently struggling at the bottom of Group C after suffering a 2-0 defeat to high-flying group leaders Malawi. While the North Africans have yet to collect a point in the competition, Nigeria cannot afford any complacency as they look to build momentum for the latter stages of the tournament.