The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has constituted a six-member fact-finding committee to investigate Nigeria’s recent poor performances in international football, with particular attention on the Super Falcons’ failure to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, writes Nigeriasoccernet.com.

The move follows the Falcons’ disappointing campaign at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where the defending champions were eliminated by Cameroon in the quarter-finals before suffering a 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the World Cup qualifying playoff.

The defeat ended Nigeria’s remarkable record of appearing at every edition of the FIFA Women’s World Cup since the tournament began in 1991. The setback has raised fresh questions about the state of women’s football in the country and the factors behind the national teams’ recent struggles.

Former NFF General Secretary, Ambassador Fanny Amun, MON, will chair the committee, which has been tasked with examining the reasons behind what the federation described as the “unwholesome poor run” of Nigeria’s national teams in international competitions.

The committee comprises former Nigeria U-20 head coach and Nigeria Football Coaches Association president Ladan Bosso, former Super Falcons captain and multiple Women’s AFCON winner Desire Oparanozie, former Super Eagles captain and AFCON winner Mutiu Adepoju, and former FIFA referee Dr Alex Mana.

Chairman of the Sokoto State Football Association, Mallam Mohammed Nasir Sa’idu, will serve as secretary.

Fact-Finding Committee:

Ambassador Fanny Amun, MON - Chairman

Coach Ladan Bosso - Member

Desire Oparanozie - Member

Mutiu Adepoju - Member

Dr Alex Mana - Member

Mallam Mohammed Nasir Sa’idu - Secretary

The committee is expected to assess the factors responsible for Nigeria’s recent international setbacks and provide findings that could help the NFF address the challenges facing the country’s national teams.

Former Shooting Stars coach Fatai Amao has criticised the Super Falcons following their 2-1 defeat to South Africa in the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off in Casablanca, Nigeriasoccernet.com writes

The loss means Nigeria will miss the Women’s World Cup for the first time since making their debut at the competition in 1991, ending an eight-edition streak.

The Super Falcons fell behind in the 56th minute when Thembi Kgatlana found the breakthrough, before Refiloe Jane doubled South Africa’s advantage 21 minutes later. Christy Ucheibe pulled one back from the penalty spot late in the game, but Nigeria could not find an equaliser.

Amao expressed his disappointment with the result, describing the performance as unacceptable given the importance of the encounter.

“I am really disappointed with the way the Super Falcons lost their only chance of qualifying for the 2027 Women’s World Cup to South Africa.

“This performance is unacceptable considering the fact that this match was supposed to serve as an opportunity for the team to bounce back to winning ways.

“We have to look beyond this result and start to prepare early for the next tournament.”

Nigeria's failure to qualify comes after their quarter-final elimination by Cameroon at the 2026 WAFCON, which had already ended their remarkable record of reaching at least the semi-finals in every edition they had previously contested.

The Super Falcons, who have won the continental title 10 times, will now have to regroup and begin preparations for their next major international challenge.

Meanwhile, Ghana defeated Côte d’Ivoire 2-1 in the other play-in fixture to advance to the preliminary round of the Inter-Confederation Playoffs.

South Africa defeated Nigeria’s Super Falcons 2-1 in Thursday’s 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-in clash, ending the nine-time African champions’ hopes of reaching the global tournament, reports Nigeriasoccernet.com.

The defeat means Nigeria will miss the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time since making their debut at the inaugural edition in 1991, bringing an end to a remarkable streak of eight consecutive appearances.

The Super Falcons had been given another route to qualification after their quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the 2026 WAFCON, but they were unable to overcome Banyana Banyana in Casablanca.

Nigeria’s failure to qualify represents a major setback for the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, who have featured at every Women’s World Cup since 1991.

For South Africa, the victory keeps their hopes of reaching the 2027 World Cup alive as they advance in the qualification process.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has vowed that Nigeria will give everything to keep their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup alive when they face South Africa on Thursday, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

The 10-time African champions missed out on automatic qualification after suffering a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria now face Banyana Banyana at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with a place in the inter-confederation playoffs at stake.

Madugu acknowledged the importance of the encounter and expressed confidence that his players can respond positively to their disappointment against the Indomitable Lionesses.

“We have a second chance. We have this second opportunity. We are still going to do the best that we can,” Madugu said during his interaction with the media in Casablanca.

The coach stressed that the Super Falcons are determined to make the most of the opportunity and deliver a result that will keep their World Cup ambitions alive.

“We’re not leaving anything out. We’re going to put in all our best to make sure that we put smiles on the faces of our people because we know what it means to all of us as Nigerians.”

Madugu also revealed that selection for the decisive encounter would be based strictly on readiness, ruling out experimentation or unnecessary squad rotation.

“For tomorrow’s (today's) game, for every game we pick, we pick those that we feel are ready to ensure that we win every match,” he added.

“It’s not just about squad rotation, that everybody should have an opportunity to just play. It’s not about that. It’s about ensuring that we have the right people that will always win every game for us.”

The Super Falcons must defeat South Africa to advance to the inter-confederation playoffs and preserve their hopes of featuring at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has called on her teammates to put their quarter-final defeat to Cameroon behind them and focus on securing victory against South Africa in their crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

Nigeria’s hopes of securing automatic qualification were dashed after the 10-time African champions suffered a 1-0 defeat to the Indomitable Lionesses in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

However, Justine Madugu’s side still have another route to Brazil 2027 through the inter-confederation play-offs.

The Super Falcons must first overcome South Africa’s Banyana Banyana in Casablanca to advance to the mini-tournament and keep their World Cup ambitions alive.

Ajibade acknowledged the disappointment of the Cameroon defeat but insisted the team must quickly regroup and focus on the opportunity ahead.

“What has happened has happened. There’s nothing we can do about that. We can’t control it anymore. It’s all about putting ourselves together and getting the loss behind us,” Ajibade told a press conference.

The captain also urged her teammates to demonstrate the mentality expected of champions when they face South Africa.

“Sometimes champions are defined in the face of adversities. We just have to go back and prepare better. Being in the World Cup, honestly, in Nigeria, that is very important for us. So we’ll do our best.”

The decisive encounter will take place at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off scheduled for 9pm Nigerian time.

National Sports Commission (NSC) Director General Bukola Olopade has urged the Super Falcons to put their WAFCON disappointment behind them and secure victory against South Africa in Thursday’s crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup playoff, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

Nigeria’s hopes of automatic qualification were ended by a 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, but the 10-time African champions still have an opportunity to reach the World Cup through the inter-confederation playoffs.

Olopade believes the Super Falcons must quickly move on from their setback and focus entirely on the decisive encounter with Desiree Ellis’ Banyana Banyana at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca.

“The Super Falcons remain Africa’s biggest football brand and the pride of the continent; therefore, the rare loss to Cameroon should not define them because we know how good they are,” Olopade told the NSC media.

The NSC chief also reminded the players of the strong support they continue to enjoy from Nigerians and urged them to give their best against South Africa.

“The girls have brought us tremendous joy over the years, and I want them to know that Nigerians are definitely behind them, more than ever before, even as they play this crucial game tonight.”

Victory over South Africa would move Nigeria into the inter-confederation playoff stage, keeping their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup alive.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has defended Chiamaka Nnadozie following her costly error in Nigeria’s 1-0 quarter-final defeat to Cameroon, but admits the technical crew could consider other goalkeeping options ahead of Thursday’s crucial 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup play-off against South Africa, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

Nnadozie has faced criticism throughout the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after her positioning was questioned in some of the goals Nigeria conceded during the tournament.

The goalkeeper came under scrutiny in the Super Falcons’ 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening group match, before responding with a clean sheet in the 1-0 victory over Zambia. She then conceded twice as Nigeria defeated Egypt 6-2 to secure their place in the quarter-finals.

Nnadozie was again criticised against Cameroon after Myriam Maéva Nyadjou’s superb free-kick found the net, with the Nigerian goalkeeper unable to cover the far side of her goal.

Despite the setback, Madugu was quick to defend the three-time CAF Women’s Goalkeeper of the Year, insisting that one mistake should not define her quality.

“Chiamaka has been a wonderful goalkeeper, not just for the national team, but also for her club. Anyone can make mistakes at any time. These mistakes can be costly, as it has been for us today, but that’s not to say she’s a bad goalkeeper,” Madugu said after the match.

However, the coach confirmed that the technical crew would conduct a full assessment of the squad before deciding on their lineup for the South Africa clash.

Nigeria have alternatives available, including Nigeria Women’s Football League goalkeeper of the year Fatima Oloko and Portsmouth goalkeeper Comfort Erhabor, who impressed during the scouting process.

Madugu stressed that every position would be reviewed as the team prepares for the decisive encounter.

“It’s natural that when things like this happen, we have to do an overall assessment of the team, what went wrong, what we did well, where did we get it wrong,” he said.

“We have to do an overall assessment and see what we can do in the shortest possible time before the next game against South Africa.

“There’s nothing bad about exploring other players.”

Nigeria’s defeat to Cameroon brought an unwanted piece of history, as the Super Falcons failed to reach the WAFCON semi-finals for the first time.

The result also denied the 10-time African champions one of the continent’s four automatic qualification spots for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

Nigeria must now defeat South Africa in Casablanca on Thursday to advance to the FIFA inter-confederation play-offs, which will be held in November and December and provide another opportunity to secure a place at the World Cup.

South Africa defender Lebohang Ramalepe has called on her teammates to show greater mental strength when they face Nigeria’s Super Falcons in a crucial FIFA Women’s World Cup qualification encounter, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

Banyana Banyana missed out on automatic qualification after suffering a 2-1 defeat to hosts Morocco in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.

Nigeria also failed to secure a direct route to the World Cup after losing 1-0 to Cameroon’s Indomitable Lionesses in their own quarter-final clash.

The two continental rivals must now battle for a place in the inter-confederation playoffs, with Thursday’s encounter carrying huge significance for both teams.

Ramalepe believes South Africa’s chances will depend heavily on their ability to remain mentally strong and maintain belief despite the disappointment of their WAFCON exit.

“What is required is mental toughness. As a team, we just need to ask ourselves: ‘what is it that we want?’” Ramalepe told ESPN.

The defender urged her teammates not to approach the match with a defeatist mentality, insisting that their World Cup dream remains alive.

“If we go into the next match with the mentality of ‘all is lost’… no, we still have a chance; all is not lost.

“We just need to stay focused, be mentally sharp and take it as a final match.”

South Africa will now turn their attention to the Super Falcons, with both teams desperate to keep their World Cup hopes alive.

The decisive encounter is scheduled for Thursday at the Moulay Rachid Stadium in Casablanca, with kick-off set for 9pm Nigerian time.

Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Institute for Sports (NIS), Philip Shaibu, has urged the Super Falcons to put their WAFCON disappointment behind them and focus on securing victory against South Africa in their upcoming 2026 World Cup qualifier, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

Shaibu made the call after Nigeria’s WAFCON campaign ended with a quarter-final defeat to Cameroon, urging the players to quickly shift their attention to Thursday’s crucial encounter with the Banyana Banyana.

The NIS boss reminded the Super Falcons of their status as Africa’s most successful women’s national team, having won the continental championship a record 10 times. He urged the players to draw confidence from that history as they prepare for another important assignment.

“Setbacks are part of sport, but what defines champions is their ability to bounce back,” Shaibu said.

He also called on the coaching staff and technical crew to maintain a positive atmosphere and ensure the players are mentally and physically prepared for the battle against South Africa.

According to Shaibu, the Super Falcons must take the “never-die Nigerian spirit” into the qualifier and demonstrate the resilience that has made them a dominant force in African women’s football.

The NIS chief further appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting the team rather than dwelling on the disappointment of their WAFCON exit.

“Rather than criticism, Nigerians should pray for them and rally behind them as they chase the World Cup ticket,” he said.

Nigeria will face South Africa on Thursday, August 13, 2026, with the Super Falcons hoping to respond positively to their continental setback and strengthen their bid for qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Shaibu remains confident that Nigeria’s experience, quality and determination can help the team return to winning ways and take another step towards securing a place at the global tournament.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has promised that Nigeria will be fully prepared and give everything when they face Cameroon in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

The defending champions will renew their rivalry with the Indomitable Lionesses at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca on Sunday, with a place in the semi-finals and qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup both at stake.

Madugu acknowledged the importance of the high-profile encounter, insisting that his players understand what is required and are determined to produce their best performance.

“It’s an important match because we all know what is at stake: the ticket for the World Cup. After the World Cup ticket, you have the semi-finals, which will also enable you continue your quest for retaining the trophy. We’ll go in there fully prepared, give it our best and ensure that we carry the day.”

The Super Falcons conceded five goals during the group stage, and Madugu admitted that improving their defensive organisation will be crucial against Cameroon.

The coach revealed that the technical crew has worked on correcting the errors that led to the goals conceded in the opening phase of the tournament.

“There can always be a starting point when you don’t concede goals, and we’re believing it will start from the quarter-final stage. We have been working to ensure that those mistakes and loopholes that caused those goals are corrected.”

Despite the defensive concerns, Madugu remains positive about Nigeria’s overall performance, pointing to the team’s attacking output as another source of confidence.

“Yes, we conceded goals, but we equally score goals, so it’s still positive for us,” he added.

With a World Cup ticket and a place in the WAFCON semi-finals on the line, the Super Falcons will need to produce a complete performance to overcome their familiar rivals and keep their title defence alive.

Nigerian midfielder Peace Efih has completed a permanent transfer to Greek Women’s A Division club Panathinaikos, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

The 25-year-old joins the Greek giants after spending two seasons with OFI Crete, where she scored 14 goals in 40 appearances.

Efih expressed her excitement after completing the move, revealing her ambition to help Panathinaikos win the league title.

“I am very excited to have signed with Panathinaikos. I look forward to scoring many goals and helping the team achieve its main goal, which is winning the Championship. I can’t wait to get started,” Efih told the club’s official website.

Efih began her career with former Nigeria Women Football League champions Rivers Angels before featuring for Bayelsa Queens.

The midfielder has built extensive experience abroad, representing Sporting de Huelva and Zaragoza CFF in Spain, Kiryat Gat in Israel, Braga in Portugal and OFI Crete in Greece.

At international level, Efih progressed through Nigeria’s youth teams, representing the Flamingos at the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup before featuring for the Falconets at the 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Her performances at youth level eventually earned her promotion to the Super Falcons, completing her progression through Nigeria’s women’s national teams.

Efih will now begin a new chapter with Panathinaikos as she looks to contribute to the club’s title ambitions in the upcoming campaign.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has announced an enhanced financial incentive package for Nigeria’s Super Falcons following their qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko revealed that the commission has doubled the Super Falcons’ goal bonus from $5,000 to $10,000 per goal in recognition of the team’s performance during the group stage.

In addition, a private-sector support initiative coordinated by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service has pledged another $10,000 for every goal scored by the Super Falcons throughout the tournament.

With Nigeria scoring six goals in their group-stage victory over Egypt, the combined goal incentives from the NSC and private-sector initiative amount to $120,000.

The NSC has also directed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay the players their full match bonuses for all three group-stage fixtures, including the victory over Zambia, the win against Egypt and the defeat to Malawi.

The decision is aimed at boosting morale within the squad as the defending champions enter the knockout phase in pursuit of a record-extending WAFCON title.

Nigeria advanced to the quarter-finals after winning two of their three group matches to finish second in their group with six points, behind Malawi.

The Super Falcons will now face Cameroon, who topped their group unbeaten with seven points after recording two wins and a draw.

The quarter-final clash promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the tournament, with Nigeria and Cameroon sharing a long-standing rivalry in African women’s football.

The enhanced financial incentives are expected to provide further motivation for the Super Falcons as they prepare for the crucial knockout encounter and continue their bid to retain the continental crown.

Cameroon secured top spot in Group D of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations after playing out a 1-1 draw with debutants Cape Verde in their final group-stage fixture in Casablanca on Thursday, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

The result saw the Indomitable Lionesses finish the group stage unbeaten with two wins and a draw, collecting seven points to claim first place and set up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash against defending champions Nigeria on Saturday.

Cape Verde started brightly and created the first clear opportunity in the 19th minute when Ivania Moreira found space inside the penalty area, but her effort lacked the power to trouble the Cameroon goalkeeper.

Cameroon punished the missed opportunity nine minutes later. Naomi Ndjoah Eto produced another impressive run down the right before picking out Grace Mendoua, who fired a first-time effort into the top corner to give the Lionesses the lead.

Cape Verde responded strongly after the interval and drew level in the 50th minute. Moreira made amends for her earlier miss by calmly finishing to make it 1-1.

Cameroon thought they had restored their lead when substitute Michaela-Batya Abam bundled the ball into the net following a goalmouth scramble, but the effort was ruled out after a VAR review for a foul in the build-up.

Both teams continued to search for a winner, with Ndjoah Eto coming close after leading a swift counterattack, only for her low effort to be brilliantly stopped.

Cape Verde nearly snatched a historic victory late on when Alivia Kelly broke through on goal, but the Cameroon goalkeeper produced an excellent save to preserve the draw.

The result confirmed Cameroon as Group D winners and kept their unbeaten record intact, while Cape Verde bowed out of their debut WAFCON campaign with their first-ever point in the competition.

Cameroon will now turn their attention to Saturday’s quarter-final against Nigeria, with a place in the semi-finals at stake.

Nigeria’s Super Falcons booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in emphatic fashion after cruising to a 6-2 victory over Egypt in their final Group C fixture on Wednesday, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

The 10th-time African champions delivered a dominant attacking display from start to finish, bouncing back from their opening defeat to Malawi to secure a convincing win that sealed progression to the knockout stage.

The victory ensured the Super Falcons finished the group stage on six points, guaranteeing their place in the last eight while keeping their hopes of reclaiming the continental title firmly alive.

Nigeria's attacking unit proved too much for the Egyptians to handle, scoring six times in an entertaining contest despite conceding twice.

The comprehensive victory also marked a strong response from Justine Madugu's side following criticism after their shock defeat to Malawi, with the Super Falcons producing one of their most impressive attacking performances of the tournament.

The Super Falcons will now shift their attention to the quarter-finals as they continue their quest for a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.

Nigeria's Super Falcons head into their decisive Group C clash against Egypt knowing that qualification for the quarter-finals of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) remains firmly in their own hands, NigeriaSoccernet.com reports.

The nine-time African champions sit second in the group with three points from two matches after bouncing back from their opening defeat to Malawi with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia.

Current Group C Standings

Malawi – 6 points

Nigeria – 3 points

Zambia – 3 points

Egypt – 0 points

Nigeria currently holds the advantage over Zambia courtesy of their 1-0 head-to-head victory over the Copper Queens earlier in the tournament.

The final Group C fixtures will be played simultaneously on Wednesday, with Nigeria taking on Egypt while group leaders Malawi face Zambia. Both matches are scheduled to kick off at 9:00 p.m. Nigerian time.

What happens if Nigeria win?

A victory over Egypt would put the Super Falcons in a strong position to reach the quarter-finals.

Nigeria will qualify automatically if Malawi avoid defeat against Zambia.

Should Zambia defeat Malawi, all three teams would finish on six points. Qualification would then be determined by the head-to-head mini-table involving Nigeria, Malawi and Zambia.

In that scenario, Nigeria would advance in virtually every outcome. The only exception would be if Zambia secure a one-goal victory in a high-scoring game in which Malawi score at least three goals, such as a 4-3 or 5-4 result.

What happens if Nigeria draw?

A draw against Egypt would be enough to secure qualification if Malawi avoid defeat against Zambia.

However, if Zambia defeat Malawi, Nigeria would be eliminated despite taking a point from Egypt.

What happens if Nigeria lose?

Defeat would leave the Super Falcons depending on the outcome of the other group fixture.

Nigeria could still progress if Malawi defeat Zambia and the Super Falcons lose to Egypt by no more than three goals. Any other combination of results would end their title defence at the group stage.

The simplest route to qualification

Nigeria's path to the quarter-finals is straightforward:

Avoid defeat against Egypt.

Hope Malawi avoid defeat against Zambia.

If both conditions are met, the Super Falcons will book their place in the knockout stage.

What's at stake?

As the most successful nation in WAFCON history, Nigeria entered the tournament among the favourites to reclaim the continental title. Failure to progress beyond the group stage would rank among the biggest shocks of the competition.

With qualification, pride and their championship ambitions all on the line, the Super Falcons will be determined to deliver a strong performance against Egypt and keep their quest for another African crown alive.

Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala was named Player of the Match after delivering a match-winning performance in Nigeria's crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The experienced striker scored the only goal of the contest in the eighth minute, helping the defending champions secure a vital three points and revive their hopes of reaching the knockout stage.

Oshoala caused constant problems for the Zambian defence throughout the encounter with her pace, intelligent movement, and effective hold-up play, proving to be Nigeria's biggest attacking threat.

The Super Falcons were forced to play with 10 players for more than half of the match after defender Oluwatosin Demehin was shown a red card in the 40th minute, but Oshoala's early strike proved enough to seal the win.

With Malawi leading Group C on six points, Nigeria must now defeat Egypt in their final group fixture to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals. A draw could leave the Super Falcons vulnerable to being overtaken by Zambia on goal difference, depending on the outcome of the group's other match.

Oshoala once again underlined her importance to the national team, adding another memorable performance to a career that has seen her become one of the most decorated players in African women's football.

The six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year continues to spearhead Nigeria's attack, combining her experience, leadership, and goalscoring ability as the Super Falcons pursue a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.

Nigeria's Super Falcons produced a resilient display to defeat Zambia 1-0 despite playing with 10 women for much of the match, reviving their hopes of reaching the knockout stage of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The defending champions struck early at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, with six-time African Women's Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala scoring the decisive goal in the eighth minute.

Oshoala burst past two defenders before seeing her initial effort saved by goalkeeper Hazel Nali. However, the rebound ricocheted off the Nigerian forward and rolled into the net to hand the Super Falcons an early advantage.

Nigeria's task became significantly more difficult five minutes before half-time when defender Blessing Demehin was shown a straight red card for bringing down Zambia captain Barbra Banda as the last defender.

Despite being reduced to 10 players, the Super Falcons defended resolutely to preserve their slender lead and secure a crucial three points.

The result leaves Group C finely poised after two rounds of matches, with Malawi leading the standings on six points, while Nigeria and Zambia are level on three points each. Egypt remain without a point heading into the final round of group fixtures.

Nigeria will now face Egypt in a must-win encounter on Wednesday, while Malawi and Zambia will battle for the other qualification spot in an all-southern African showdown.

Earlier in the day, Malawi continued their remarkable debut campaign with a 3-1 victory over Egypt to maintain their perfect start to the tournament.

Rose Kadzere opened the scoring in the 35th minute after being set up by Temwa Chawinga, before Faith Chinzimu doubled Malawi's advantage deep into first-half stoppage time.

Although Malawi were reduced to 10 players in the 52nd minute after Rose Alufandika received a straight red card for a last-defender challenge on Habiba Essam, they extended their lead through Temwa Chawinga in the 69th minute.

The Kansas City Current forward capitalised on a race for the ball with Egyptian goalkeeper Maha Shehata before heading into an unguarded net.

Egypt pulled a goal back two minutes later through Eman Kassem, who headed home a free-kick to score her country's first goal of the tournament, but it proved only a consolation as Malawi claimed another famous victory.

Zambia forward Rachael Kundananji believes Saturday's crucial Women's Africa Cup of Nations Group C encounter against Nigeria's Super Falcons will be decisive for both teams' hopes of progressing in the tournament, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The defending champions suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening match, while Zambia announced themselves as title contenders with a commanding 6-0 victory over Egypt.

With qualification to the knockout stage hanging in the balance, Kundananji acknowledged the significance of the fixture and expressed confidence in her team's readiness.

"The morale is high, the team is ready," she said during Friday's pre-match press conference.

"We understand it's not an easy task. It's the game that will determine both teams' fate. It's the game that will make everything easy or tough. It won't be an easy game, and we are just looking forward to doing our best."

Zambia head coach Nora Häuptle also made it clear that her side would not settle for a draw, insisting the Copper Queens will approach the contest with the intention of claiming all three points.

"We never play for a draw, it's not in our nature. We always chase for the lead in games. In the last edition we lost against Nigeria in the quarter-finals, we learnt a lot from that game, and against Egypt we showed our flexibility so we can surprise Nigeria," Häuptle said.

The Swiss tactician credited her team's recent development to a series of high-profile international friendlies played during the FIFA Series, where Zambia tested themselves against some of the world's top-ranked nations.

"We have grown as a team. This year we played in the FIFA Series where we faced top-20 teams in the world to learn about high-level games. The lessons from those matches have made us stronger and given me a lot of confidence in this team," she added.

Saturday's encounter will be the fifth WAFCON meeting between Nigeria and Zambia. The Super Falcons have won three of the previous four meetings, including emphatic 6-0 and 4-0 group-stage victories in 2014 and 2018 respectively.

Zambia recorded their first-ever WAFCON victory over Nigeria with a 1-0 win in the third-place playoff at the 2022 tournament before the Super Falcons responded emphatically with a 5-0 quarter-final triumph en route to lifting the 2024 continental title.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has remained defiant ahead of Nigeria's decisive 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations clash with Zambia, insisting his side is fully focused despite the criticism that followed their opening defeat to Malawi, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The defending champions suffered a shocking loss to tournament debutants Malawi in their first Group B fixture, leaving them under pressure to secure a positive result against the Copper Queens to keep their title defence on course.

Addressing the media on Friday, Madugu rejected claims that the defeat reflected shortcomings in his tactical approach, pointing out that his previous successes with the Super Falcons had not attracted similar scrutiny.

"They are questioning my technical and tactical ability because we lost a game. But was the Malawi game the first I have handled with the Super Falcons?" Madugu said.

"It was not the first game. I have handled several other matches that we won, and nobody questioned me then."

The coach stressed that he and his backroom staff remain confident in their methods and are concentrating solely on preparing the team for the challenge against Zambia.

"The fact is that we know what we are doing. We are focused and looking ahead.

"Like I said, the last game we played was not the only game we have played at the WAFCON. We played in the tournament in 2024, and we won.

"Because we lost one game, people are questioning the tactics. It is within their rights to do so. I don't have any problem with that."

Nigeria head into Saturday's encounter knowing that victory is crucial if they are to revive their hopes of progressing in the tournament and retaining the Women's Africa Cup of Nations title.

Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has accepted responsibility for Nigeria's shock defeat to Malawi and promised improvements ahead of the team's crucial second Group C fixture at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.

The defending champions suffered a disappointing 3-2 loss to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening match, leaving their hopes of reaching the knockout stage hanging in the balance.

Speaking after the game, Madugu acknowledged the disappointment of the result, accepted the criticism that followed, and assured Nigerians that the team would work hard to correct the mistakes that led to the defeat.

"There will always be criticism and comments when things go wrong. We accept those things, we accept responsibility for whatever happened, and we'll try to work on it," Madugu said.

"Whatever mistakes were made, the players are very flexible, and we'll correct them next time.

"It's a wake-up call for all of us, and we know how important this edition is. We're not taking anything for granted."

The Super Falcons must now defeat Zambia's Copper Queens in their next outing to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition.

The decisive Group C encounter is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, with Nigeria seeking an immediate response after the disappointing opening-day setback.