The Super Falcons of Nigeria suffered a 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening Group C match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco on Tuesday.
The result left the defending champions with an early setback in their bid for an 11th continental title. Meanwhile, Malawi, making their first appearance at the tournament, claimed a historic victory at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat.
Both teams created chances before the break. However, neither side found the net. Nigeria controlled much of the possession yet struggled to break down a resolute Malawi defence.
After the restart, Malawi seized the initiative. Temwa Chawinga opened the scoring in the 73rd minute. She capitalised on a long ball and a misjudged intervention by goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie before slotting home.
Six minutes later, Tabitha Chawinga doubled the lead. She finished another through ball that left Nnadozie exposed. The sisters’ clinical finishing transformed the contest.
Nigeria reduced the deficit in the second minute of added time. Captain Rasheedat Ajibade converted a penalty after a handball following Uchenna Kanu’s header.
Yet Malawi restored their two-goal cushion almost immediately. Temwa Chawinga lobbed the ball into an empty net in the 95th minute after another positioning error by Nnadozie.
Kanu scored a consolation goal in the ninth minute of stoppage time. The late strike proved insufficient as the final whistle confirmed the 3-2 scoreline.
The defeat placed Nigeria at the bottom of the group after Zambia recorded a 6-0 win over Egypt earlier in the day. Head coach Justine Madugu had stressed before the match that his side would not underestimate the opponents.
“We have huge respect for all our opponents. Yes, they are debutants, but they are a very good side,” Madugu said in his pre-match comments. “We don’t take anything for granted.”
Malawi’s victory marked a landmark moment for the Scorchers on their tournament debut. Nigeria now face a tougher path to advance and secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
