By Paul Lucky Okoku
Defending champions Nigeria bounced back from their opening Group C defeat to Malawi with a determined 1-0 victory over Zambia, overcoming the challenge of playing more than half the match with 10 players to revive their hopes of reaching the quarterfinals of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Super Falcons produced a disciplined and resilient performance, demonstrating the character expected of champions after suffering an early setback in the tournament.
Asisat Oshoala scored the decisive goal after capitalizing on hesitation inside the Zambian penalty area. The experienced striker reacted quickest to a loose ball, forcing an initial save before calmly converting the rebound to hand Nigeria an early lead.
The contest took a dramatic turn before halftime when defender Blessing Demehin was shown a red card, reducing Nigeria to 10 players.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Super Falcons reorganized effectively, defending with discipline and limiting Zambia to few clear-cut opportunities throughout the second half.
Rather than allowing the extra player to dictate the game, Nigeria maintained its defensive shape and controlled the tempo through collective effort. Midfielders worked tirelessly to protect the back line, while the forwards contributed defensively, ensuring Zambia struggled to exploit its advantage.
Although Zambia enjoyed more possession after the dismissal, it failed to apply sustained pressure or create the kind of openings expected against a side playing with 10 women. Nigeria remained compact, organized, and committed to protecting its slender lead until the final whistle.
The victory lifts Nigeria to three points after two Group C matches, alongside Zambia, while Malawi leads the group with six points. Egypt remains without a point.
Nigeria now controls its own qualification hopes heading into the final group match against Egypt on Wednesday. A victory would almost certainly secure a place in the quarterfinals, while a draw could also be enough depending on the outcome of the simultaneous fixture between Malawi and Zambia and the tournament’s tiebreakers.
Despite Egypt’s difficult start to the tournament, Nigeria has been warned against complacency, with the North Africans expected to play for pride and seek to end their campaign on a positive note.
The Super Falcons’ performance against Zambia highlighted the importance of discipline, teamwork, and resilience in tournament football. While Nigeria may not have produced its most fluent display, the team showed the determination and defensive organization often required to succeed in championship competitions.
Having recovered from their opening defeat, the defending champions now have the opportunity to complete their comeback by securing qualification for the knockout stage with a positive result against Egypt.
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