Nigeria’s Super Falcons boosted their hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia in their second Group C match on Saturday.
The win marked a return to winning ways for the nine-time African champions after they entered the match under intense pressure following earlier results in the group.
Captain Asisat Oshoala scored the decisive goal in the eighth minute. Her initial effort was saved by the Zambian goalkeeper, but the ball fell kindly back to the striker, who calmly slotted home to hand Nigeria an early lead.
The goal proved enough to separate both sides in a closely contested encounter.
Falcons Hold Firm With 10 Players
Nigeria’s task became significantly more difficult five minutes before halftime when defender Oluwatosin Demehin was shown a straight red card in the 40th minute.
Reduced to 10 players, the Super Falcons were forced to defend resolutely for the remainder of the first half and throughout the second period, successfully keeping Zambia at bay to preserve their narrow advantage.
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Earlier in the day, Malawi defeated Egypt 3-1, a result that meant Nigeria could not afford another defeat, as it would have ended both their WAFCON campaign and hopes of qualifying for the next stage.
The victory lifts Nigeria to second place in Group C on a superior head-to-head record and keeps qualification firmly within reach.
The Super Falcons must now secure a convincing victory over Egypt in their final group-stage fixture to book a place in the quarter-finals and keep their WAFCON title ambitions alive.
Esther Ososanya is an investigative journalist with Pinnacle Daily, reporting across health, business, environment, metro, Fct and crime. Known for her bold, empathetic storytelling, she uncovers hidden truths, challenges broken systems, and gives voice to overlooked Nigerians. Her work drives national conversations and demands accountability one powerful story at a time.