The Super Falcons stepped onto the pitch facing immense pressure. Just days earlier, the ten-time champions suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to tournament newcomers Malawi. In that match, uncharacteristic defensive errors put Nigeria in a 3-0 hole, forcing late stoppage-time goals from Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu simply to make the scoreline respectable.
Against Zambia, Nigeria adopted a much more disciplined approach. A tightened defensive shape and a clinical finish were enough to secure the three points, restoring stability to their tournament run and setting up a high-stakes finish to the group stage.
Meanwhile, Malawi proved their opening-day upset was no fluke. The "Scorchers" followed up their historic win over Nigeria with a dominant 3-1 victory against Egypt.
Even after going down to 10 players early in the second half, Malawi displayed veteran composure. Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga remained a constant threat, scoring her third goal of the tournament to put the game out of reach.
With back-to-back victories, Malawi has officially booked a spot in the WAFCON knockout rounds on their first-ever attempt. They are rapidly establishing themselves as a legitimate threat for a World Cup ticket, while Nigeria’s gritty bounce-back win ensures the traditional heavyweights remain firmly in the fight