Oshoala apologises after WAFCON defeat as Nigeria’s Super Falcons reflect on Malawi loss and prepare for their next Group C match against Zambia

Nigeria forward Asisat Oshoala has apologised to supporters after the Super Falcons suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), describing the result as a warning ahead of their remaining group fixtures.

Also read: Malawi Ends Super Falcons’ WAFCON Record With Historic Win

The defending champions were beaten by tournament debutants Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium on Tuesday night, with the Chawinga sisters inspiring the Scorchers to a historic victory.

Temwa Chawinga scored twice, while captain Tabitha Chawinga added another goal as Malawi secured one of the biggest upsets in the competition’s history.

Nigeria responded through captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who converted a penalty, and substitute Uchenna Kanu, but the late comeback was not enough to prevent the Super Falcons from beginning their title defence with a defeat.

Speaking after the match, Oshoala expressed regret over the result and asked Nigerian fans for patience and support.

“We are sorry for losing the opening game to Malawi,” Oshoala told reporters.

The former Barcelona forward said the defeat should serve as a reminder that competition across African women’s football has become increasingly challenging.

“Smaller nations are closing the gap, but it’s also a wake-up call for Nigeria. We have to understand that other teams want to win this trophy as well,” Oshoala said.

The five-time African Women’s Player of the Year added that Nigeria must quickly recover and focus on the remaining fixtures if they hope to defend their continental crown.

“It’s still a long competition, and all we need to do is prepare well for the next game,” she said.

The result ended Nigeria’s long-standing dominance against WAFCON debutants. Before the Malawi encounter, the Super Falcons had never lost to a first-time participant in 17 previous meetings at the tournament.

Despite the setback, Nigeria’s qualification hopes remain alive under the tournament format, which allows the top two teams from each group and the best third-placed sides to progress to the knockout stage.

Also read: Malawi Ends Super Falcons’ WAFCON Record With Historic Win

The Super Falcons now face a crucial Group C encounter against Zambia’s Copper Queens on Saturday, with the match expected to play a major role in determining Nigeria’s route to the quarter-finals. Zambia opened their campaign with a commanding 6-0 victory over Egypt, putting early pressure on Nigeria to respond.