The Super Falcons of Nigeria produced a spirited performance to defeat Zambia 1-0 in their second Group C fixture at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat, Morocco.
Captain Asisat Oshoala scored the decisive goal early in the encounter as the nine-time African champions claimed their first victory of the tournament despite playing more than half of the match with 10 players.
Nigeria made a bright start and took the lead in the opening stages through Oshoala, who calmly finished to hand the defending champions an early advantage.
The Super Falcons appeared to be in complete control before the game took a dramatic turn when one of their players was shown a red card, reducing the team to 10 players and setting up a tense contest.
Despite the numerical disadvantage, Nigeria displayed remarkable discipline, resilience and defensive organisation to keep the Copper Queens at bay for the remainder of the match.
Zambia dominated possession for long spells and created several goalscoring opportunities as they searched for an equaliser, but the Nigerian defence remained resolute while the goalkeeper made crucial saves to preserve the slim advantage.
The victory gives Nigeria a major boost in the race for a place in the knockout stage, with the Super Falcons demonstrating the fighting spirit that has made them the most successful team in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Head coach Justin Madugu will also be encouraged by his team’s determination and defensive solidity, particularly after they were forced to play with a numerical disadvantage for much of the encounter.
The result strengthens Nigeria’s position in Group C and boosts the team’s confidence ahead of their remaining group fixtures as they continue their quest for a record-extending WAFCON title.
For Zambia, the defeat is a setback in their campaign despite an impressive second-half display in which they pressed relentlessly for an equaliser but were unable to break through Nigeria’s disciplined backline.
The Super Falcons will now shift their attention to their next group match, knowing another positive result could secure qualification for the quarter-finals.
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