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Following their shock defeat in the hands of debutants Malawi on Tuesday in their opening Group C match at the ongoing Women;s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026, Super Falcons attacker Esther Okoronkwo has promised Nigerian fans that the team will put on a better display in their second game against Zambia.
Nigeria were expected to sweep past Malawi in their opening WAFCON fixture on Tuesday, but they were caught off guard.
Coach Justine Madugu had all his best players available, but a tactical masterclass combined with sheer determination saw the Scorchers claim all three points.
The Chawinga sisters — Tabitha and Temwa — used their speed to devastating effect, as their goals came from long balls played behind the defensive line.
It was only after falling behind that Nigeria picked up the pace. However, it proved to be too little, too late, as late goals from Okoronkwo and Rasheedat Ajibade were not enough to salvage a result, and they ended up losing 3-2.
The surprise result leaves the Super Falcons in a difficult position heading into their remaining group stage matches.
Speaking after the defeat to Malawi, Super Falcons star attacker Esther Okoronkwo expressed her readiness to put the result behind her.
She admitted that the team approached the game a bit flat and vowed that they would improve moving forward.
”I think next game we’re going to come back; we have to come out better than we did,” Okoronkwo said.
“This game kind of came out a little flat, but it is what it is. We learned, we’re going to go back and learn our lesson and fix where we need to, so we can come back better in the next game.”
Reflecting on a controversial penalty appeal during the match, she added: “I don’t know what the referee saw, but I think it definitely should have been looked at. Still, it is what it is. I didn’t get it, so I’m not going to complain about it.
Next up for the 10-time African champions is a crucial fixture against Zambia on Saturday, August 1. A defeat would likely signal the end of Nigeria’s campaign in Morocco.
Coach Madugu has a lot of work on his hands to get the team firing. The squad has immense quality; they simply need to click and get going.
Okoronkwo is one of the players that was able to grab the game by the scruff of the neck during the last WAFCON. But against Malawi, she was clearly not at her best. She has to step up to the plate in the next game.
