Nigeria’s Super Falcons began their quest for an 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title on a disappointing note after suffering a stunning 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening Group C fixture in Morocco.
The result marks one of the biggest upsets in the history of the competition, with Malawi announcing their arrival on the continental stage in remarkable fashion against the defending champions.
Malawi took the lead early in the contest and displayed resilience throughout the encounter, frustrating the Super Falcons with disciplined defending and clinical finishing. Despite Nigeria’s dominance in possession for long periods, the debutants remained composed and capitalized on their scoring opportunities.
The Super Falcons struggled to find their rhythm as Malawi extended their advantage during the second half. Nigeria attempted a late comeback, pulling one goal back in stoppage time before Uchenna Kanu added another deep into added time, but the rally came too late to prevent defeat.
The dramatic victory handed Malawi all three points in what was their first-ever WAFCON match, while Nigeria will now face increased pressure to secure positive results in their remaining Group C fixtures to keep their hopes of defending the continental title alive.
The 2026 WAFCON, being hosted in Morocco, features 16 teams for the first time and also serves as the African qualification tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. The four semi-finalists will qualify automatically for the World Cup, while additional qualification opportunities are available through the inter-confederation play-offs.
For Nigeria, the defeat represents an unexpected setback in the defence of their continental crown. The Super Falcons, Africa’s most successful women’s national team with ten WAFCON titles, entered the tournament as one of the favourites but will now need a strong response in their next outing to revive their campaign.
Meanwhile, Malawi’s memorable victory will go down as one of the greatest moments in the nation’s football history, providing a dream start to their maiden appearance at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
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