SUPER Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has appealed to Nigerians to continue supporting the national women’s team as they bid to recover from their shock opening defeat to Malawi at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that tournament debutants Malawi announced their arrival in spectacular fashion on Tuesday, defeating 10-time African champions Nigeria 3-2 in a thrilling Group C encounter played in Rabat.
The Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, combined to hand the Super Falcons a memorable defeat, with Temwa scoring twice in a standout performance that exposed the vulnerabilities of Africa’s most successful women’s national team.
Oshoala began the match on the substitutes’ bench before replacing Esther Okoronkwo in the 83rd minute.
Despite Nigeria’s spirited late rally, the experienced striker was unable to inspire a comeback as Malawi struck a decisive third goal to seal a famous victory.
Looking ahead to the Super Falcons’ remaining two group-stage fixtures, the 31-year-old expressed confidence that the team still has enough time to recover and revive its campaign.
“It’s still a long competition, so there is still a lot of time to prepare for the next game,” Oshoala told journalists after the match.
She also appealed to Nigerians to stand firmly behind the team as they pursue qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“We need their support right now. A World Cup ticket is at stake and this is the time we need everyone to support the team. We know the Super Eagles didn’t qualify, so we know what’s at stake and we know how Nigerians feel about this,” she said.
Oshoala, a six-time CAF Women’s Player of the Year and one of the most decorated footballers in African women’s football, acknowledged that the gap between Nigeria and the rest of the continent is rapidly closing.
“Smaller nations are closing the gap for sure, but it’s also a wake-up call for us to put in more effort, knowing that there are other teams who want to win this trophy as well,” she added.
Following the opening defeat, the Super Falcons sit third in Group C without a point and now face a crucial encounter against group leaders Zambia on Saturday before concluding their group-stage campaign against Egypt.
Nigeria must win both remaining matches to guarantee qualification for the quarter-finals before pursuing a place in the semi-finals, which would also secure qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.