Nigeria Suffer Shock Defeat Against Malawi In WAFCON Opener

Nigeria Suffer Shock Defeat Against Malawi In WAFCON Opener
Scorchers secure historic first WAFCON victory on tournament debut.
Nigeria face Zambia next as pressure mounts after shock defeat.

Malawi pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Women’s Africa Cup of Nations history on Tuesday, July 28, defeating defending champions Nigeria 3 to 1 in their Group C opener in Rabat.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that the Scorchers, making their debut at the continental tournament, produced a disciplined performance to secure their first ever WAFCON victory and hand the Super Falcons a disappointing start to their title defence.

Nigeria dominated possession for much of the match but struggled to convert their control into clear scoring opportunities. Malawi remained organised throughout the first half before breaking the deadlock in the 78th minute.

The debutants doubled their lead just two minutes later following another defensive lapse by the Super Falcons, leaving Nigeria with a difficult task to rescue the match.

Nigeria briefly threatened a comeback after Uchenna Kanu pulled a goal back in stoppage time. However, Malawi had already scored a third goal moments earlier, putting the result beyond doubt and completing a famous victory.

The defeat leaves Nigeria under pressure ahead of their second Group C fixture against Zambia on Saturday, while Malawi move into a strong position in the race for a place in the knockout stage.