Nigeria’s Super Falcons have vowed to bounce back from their opening defeat to Malawi as they prepare for a crucial Group C clash against Zambia at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday.
Speaking at a pre-match press conference, Head Coach Justin Madugu and goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie said the team has put the disappointing loss behind them and is fully focused on securing all three points against the Copper Queens.
Nnadozie defended the team amid criticism on social media, insisting the opening defeat does not define the Super Falcons.
“I felt it was necessary to apologise to the fans and let them know that what happened was not intentional. This is football; sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but that doesn’t make us a bad team,” she said.
The Brighton goalkeeper added that the players have learned from their mistakes and remain determined to restore confidence with a positive result.
She cited Argentina’s 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph as an example of how teams can recover from poor starts, noting that the South Americans lost their opening match before going on to win the tournament.
Madugu also dismissed criticism of his team selection and tactical decisions, explaining that players earn their places based on their performances in training.
“The decisions are based on what we see in training. Nobody is guaranteed a place in the team,” he said.
The coach accepted responsibility for the defeat to Malawi and pledged improvements against Zambia.
“When things go well, nobody questions the decisions. Now that we lost, the questions are expected. I take full responsibility, and I hope to do better in the next game,” he said.
Madugu acknowledged the significance of the tournament, which serves as Africa’s qualifying competition for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists earning automatic qualification.
He said the team understands the pressure to qualify, particularly after the Super Eagles failed to secure a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“We know what is at stake. We still have our destiny in our own hands, and we will do everything possible to ensure we don’t repeat what happened with the men’s team,” Madugu said.
