Okoronkwo Vows Nigeria Will Respond Against Zambia After Malawi Shock
Nigeria forward Esther Okoronkwo has vowed that the Super Falcons will produce a much-improved performance when they face Zambia in their second Group C match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The nine-time African champions suffered a surprising 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening fixture, leaving them under pressure to secure a positive result against the Copper Queens to keep their qualification hopes alive.
Super Falcons Determined to Bounce Back
Nigeria entered the tournament as overwhelming favourites but struggled to cope with Malawi’s pace and direct style of play. Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga proved decisive, exploiting space behind the Nigerian defence to inspire one of the biggest upsets in WAFCON history.
Although late goals from Esther Okoronkwo and captain Rasheedat Ajibade sparked hopes of a comeback, the Super Falcons were unable to recover after falling behind.
With Zambia coming off an emphatic 6-0 victory over Egypt, Saturday’s clash has become a crucial encounter for Nigeria.
“We Will Come Back Stronger”
Reflecting on the disappointing result, Okoronkwo admitted her side failed to perform at the level expected but insisted the players are determined to respond.
“I believe we’ll come back stronger in the next game. We have to perform much better than we did against Malawi,” she said.
“We started the match below our usual standards, but we’ve learned important lessons. We’ll analyse what went wrong, correct our mistakes and return ready for the challenge ahead.”
Oshoala Apologises to Fans
Veteran striker Asisat Oshoala also reacted to the defeat, offering an apology to Nigerian supporters while acknowledging the growing strength of women’s football across Africa.
She said the result should serve as a reminder that no team can be underestimated at the continental tournament.
“The smaller nations have improved a lot, and that’s good for African football. It’s also a wake-up call for us because every team is fighting to win this competition,” Oshoala said.
“We’re sorry to our supporters for losing our opening match. The tournament is still long, and our focus now is preparing properly for the next game.”
Nigeria will face Zambia in a high-stakes Group C showdown, with both sides chasing a place in the knockout stages. The Copper Queens enter the contest full of confidence after Barbra Banda inspired a dominant victory over Egypt, while the Super Falcons will be desperate to avoid a second consecutive defeat.
