Oshoala Fires 10-Woman Super Falcons Past Zambia to Revive WAFCON Title Defence

By Emmanuel Kwada

‎Nigeria’s Super Falcons breathed new life into their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign with a determined 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.

‎The hard-fought win came as a timely response to Nigeria’s disappointing 3-2 opening defeat to tournament debutants Malawi, restoring confidence in the team’s quest for an 11th continental title.

Asisat Oshoala

‎Veteran forward Asisat Oshoala proved the difference, scoring the decisive goal in the eighth minute to hand the nine-time champions a priceless three points. The early strike was enough to separate both sides in a fiercely contested encounter.

‎The Super Falcons, however, were forced to dig deep after defender Tosin Demehin was shown a straight red card in the 40th minute, leaving Nigeria to play the remainder of the match with 10 players.

‎Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Falcons displayed remarkable resilience and defensive discipline to frustrate Zambia’s attacking threats throughout the second half.

‎Right-back Michelle Alozie delivered an outstanding performance at both ends of the pitch and was deservedly named Woman of the Match for her tireless display, which played a crucial role in preserving Nigeria’s narrow lead.

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Michelle Alozie names Woman of the Match

‎The victory lifts Nigeria to second place in Group B behind Malawi, putting the Super Falcons back in contention for a place in the knockout stage after a difficult start to the tournament.

‎Head coach Justin Madugu’s side will now look to build on the momentum from Saturday’s victory as they prepare for their next group fixture, knowing another positive result could secure qualification for the quarter-finals.

‎The result also demonstrated the character and fighting spirit that have defined the Super Falcons over the years, as the record African champions overcame adversity to keep their title defence alive.

‎Full-Time Result: Nigeria 1-0 Zambia. Asisat Oshoala scored in the 8th minute, while Tosin Demehin was sent off with a red card in the 40th minute. With renewed confidence and three valuable points secured, the Super Falcons have reignited their WAFCON campaign and remain firmly in the race for continental glory.

8’ ⚽️ Oshoala
43’ 🟥 Demehin

The Super Falcons of Nigeria end the half one goal up but with one less player.

📺 Stream live: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc#SSFootball | #TotalEnergiesWAFCON2026 pic.twitter.com/ZCUGk9kRRC

— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) August 1, 2026

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