Super Falcons midfield pairing Christy Ucheibe and Esther Okoronkwo have pledged a stronger response when Nigeria take on Zambia after a painful 3-2 opening loss to debutants Malawi at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat on Tuesday. The setback has put pressure on head coach Justine Madugu, particularly after goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie came under fire, though the boss insisted the blame should not fall on one individual.
Malawi produced a landmark performance, with Temwa Chawinga netting twice and Tabitha adding a third to send the Scorchers to a historic win over the holders. Nigeria were unable to protect their advantage as late strikes from Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu brought the Falcons close, but it was not enough to prevent a second-half wobble that was partly linked to mistakes from Nnadozie.
Ucheibe, who plays for Benfica, said the defeat is part of the sport’s unpredictability, arguing that the priority now is immediate recovery. “It’s football. Both teams played well. You either lose, win or draw, but the important thing is to bounce back,” she said. She added that Nigeria will “do our best to get through this phase,” while continuing their quest for WAFCON success and keeping their hopes of securing World Cup qualification firmly alive.
Okoronkwo acknowledged the Falcons did not begin at their usual intensity and pointed to improvements as the route forward. “We’ve learned our lesson and we’re going to come back better in the next game,” she said. “We came out a little flat, but we know what we need to fix and we’ll improve.” The forward also believed Nigeria had a case for a penalty after a challenge inside the area, but she chose not to focus on the officiating. “I don’t know what the referee saw. I felt it should have been reviewed, but I won’t complain about it.”
The result quickly triggered criticism from some supporters, with calls growing for backup goalkeeper Comfort Erhabor to start in place of Nnadozie against Zambia.
Madugu defends Nnadozie ahead of Zambia clash
- Madugu pushed back against singling out the 25-year-old goalkeeper, stressing that the defeat was a shared responsibility rather than an individual failure.
- The coach highlighted Nnadozie’s track record, noting her reputation for strong performances both for Nigeria and at club level.
- She argued that good and bad days happen in football, describing Tuesday’s game as one of those difficult moments “not only for Chiamaka but for all of us collectively as a team.”
- Madugu then backed the Brighton goalkeeper, referencing her status as Nigeria’s first-choice since 2019, and expressed confidence that she will bounce back.
- In her view, the situation should be treated as a collective issue, with the team taking ownership rather than directing blame at a single player.
Nigeria will now face Zambia on Saturday, August 1, at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, with the Falcons aiming to earn their first win of the tournament.
