REVEALED: How Nigeria Can Avoid Early Exit From WAFCON 2026

By Harry Awurumibe,  Africa’s No.1 Women Football Journalist

With the reigning African champions Nigeria sitting in the third place in Group C of the ongoing 14th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco, after Malawi sealed a stunning 3-2 victory in the opening match at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on Tuesday night, the Super Falcons will have to dig deeper to avoid early exit from the competition in the group stage for the first time-ever.

The 10-time champions were outsmarted and outscored by debutantes Malawi in their better forgotten first match of the tournament as the Chawinga sisters Tabitha and Temwa combined to score three second half goals against the highly-rated Nigerians.

The Scorchers as Malawi’s senior women’s team are called nearly humiliated the star-studded Super Falcons with intimidating credentials in Africa and respect of the world.

Strangely, Malawi led Nigeria 2-0 until full 90 minutes through goals from Temwa Chawinga (73′) of Kansas City Current women’s football club of NWSL in United States and her senior sister and inspirational Malawi’s captain Tabitha Chawinga (79′) of Olympique Lyonnais of France.

A disjointed Super Falcons was given a lifeline when a Video Assistant Referee (VAR) called for a review of an earlier handball by a Malawian defender which was correctly awarded and team captain Rasheedat Ajibade stepped forward to convert to give Nigeria hope in the 90+2 minutes, but Temwa Chawinga struck again deep in stoppage 90+5 minutes to restore Malawi’s two-goal cushion before substitute Uchenna Kanu headed the ball into the net in 90+9 minutes to bring the final scoreline to 3-2 on the night.

Prior to the encounter, Nigeria has never lost a game to a WAFCON debutant since the tournament debuted in Nigeria in 1998 as the West African nation has played 17 games,  winning 16 and drawing just one.

But The Scorchers of Malawi have now ended that unbeaten streak to dent Nigeria’s record in grand style as they edged Super Falcons in five-goal thriller in the “Battle of Rabat” on Tuesday night.

No doubt, the defeat of the defending champions in the opening match by  debutantes Malawi has sent shock waves across Africa and beyond with two former coaches of the most decorated team in Africa lamenting the 3-2 loss to Malawi.

According to the two gaffers who pleaded anonymity, the Falcons were far from being “Super” in the encounter against the Malawians on Tuesday and advised that the team has to reset or face early exit from the competition they have dominated for over two decades.

“I watched the full first half (of Nigeria vs Malawi match), and that was not so good.

No structure in the offense.

“Then I watched the highlights..terrible defending and goalkeeping

“They looked really tired.. were they fresh enough for the game? Training and resting combined is important.

“But I don’t follow on daily basis so difficult to know. It can also depend on mental pressure

But important to check freshness every day”, said the former coach of Super Falcons.

Reminded that some of the Super Falcons strolled into the pre-tournament training camp in Casablanca, Morocco 48 hours to the start of the competition on Sunday, the coach retorted: “That’s unbelievable. Why don’t they learn from the past? It’s unprofessional and other countries do the opposite-they maximize the preparations and the staff”.

Also, commenting on the Super Falcons’ 3-2 defeat by The Scorchers on Tuesday night, another coach who won WAFCON trophy for Nigeria said a lot of things went awry on the night and called for calm while providing solutions to avoid Nigeria’s early exit from the competition in Morocco.

Said he: “I saw that Falcons’ lost to Malawi. Tough a situation now. I really hope that they keep their heads up.

“I watched the highlights. Very weak defence in this game, including poor goalkeeping. I’m very sorry for her (Chiamaka Nnadozie).

Not the best day at work”.

Commenting further on Nigeria’s loss to Malawi, the tactical gaffer with FIFA Women’s World Cup finals experience said that the Super Falcons has to dust themselves up and focus on the next important game against old foes Zambia on Saturday,  August 1, 2026.

“I guess they (Super Falcons) need to win the next match. Malawi will beat Egypt. Draw will not be enough if Malawi having 6 points after two matches. Very tough situation

Very tough situation”, the concerned Ex-Super Falcons handler lamented.

Indeed, the Cup-holders have to stage a complete comeback in the next match against the revenge-seeking Copper Queens of Zambia on Saturday.

But with Barbara Banda-led Zambia pumping six goals past Egypt in the opening match of Group C earlier on Tuesday, Nigeria will have her hands full against the rampant Zambians on Saturday, where maximum points will be essential to put their qualification drive back on track.

Should Nigeria lose or draw against Zambia  and Malawi beats Egypt as they should to get six points from two games, Nigeria will be starring early elimination in the face as three points against Egypt in the last Group C tie may not be enough to come out of the tight group if Malawi and Zambia end up on six points or four points each.

As it stands, Nigeria has to throw the kitchen sink in the remaining two group matches to garner six points which may be enough to qualify for the quarter-finals because Zambia with three points and six goals cushion will beat Malawi in the last Group C matches to be played simultaneously as Nigeria faces Egypt  on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.