Nigeria’s Super Falcons have vowed to fight until the end in their quest to defend the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title, with star striker Asisat Oshoala saying the team’s opening defeat to Malawi served as the wake-up call they needed.
The nine-time African champions bounced back with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday, despite playing most of the match with 10 players after defender Oluwatosin Demehin was sent off in the first half.
Oshoala, who scored the match-winning goal, said the red card forced every player to raise their level and work harder to secure a crucial three points.
“When you’re playing, different things can happen. We got a red card, and we knew we had to sacrifice more,” she said.
“We had to do more; we had to do double jobs in each position. We never thought about going down. We were thinking of trying to get more goals.”
The victory was a strong response to Nigeria’s disappointing opening-day defeat to Malawi, a result that left the Super Falcons under pressure heading into the Zambia encounter. Even with a numerical disadvantage, Justin Madugu’s side controlled large periods of the game and earned praise for their resilience and determination.
Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who came under criticism following the loss to Malawi, appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting the team. She expressed confidence that the Super Falcons still have what it takes to retain their continental crown.
“I just want Nigerians to be calm. We are going to make you proud. All we need from you is your prayers and support,” Nnadozie said.
Attention now shifts to Nigeria’s decisive final Group C match against Egypt, a fixture the Super Falcons must win to strengthen their hopes of reaching the knockout stage. Nnadozie admitted the contest would be another difficult test but said the team would approach it with the same determination shown against Zambia.
Nigeria currently sits third in Group C with three points, behind Malawi and Zambia. The Super Falcons will, however, be without Oluwatosin Demehin, who received a straight red card against Zambia after fouling Barbra Banda, and midfielder Jennifer Echegini, who is suspended after picking up her second yellow card of the tournament.
