WAFCON 2026: Why We Lost To Malawi — Okoronkwo
Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga combined for all three Malawi goals as the defending champions suffered a shock defeat that leaves their group-stage hopes on a knife edge.
Want our football coverage to show up first?
Add FootballInNigeria as a preferred source and our stories get a "Preferred" badge in your Google Top Stories, AI Overviews, and AI Mode results.
Esther Okoronkwo has explained why the Super Falcons suffered a shock 3-2 defeat to WAFCON debutants Malawi in their opening Group C fixture on Tuesday.
Nigeria went into the contest as clear favourites but had no answer for sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, who scored all three of Malawi’s goals between them, Temwa with a brace and Tabitha adding one. Rasheedat Ajibade and substitute Uchenna Kanu scored for the Super Falcons.
The defeat leaves Nigeria with a difficult path back into contention, needing a win over Zambia in their next group match to keep alive their hopes of reaching the quarter finals. Zambia themselves made a statement on the same day, thrashing Egypt 6-0, with Barbra Banda scoring four.
Speaking after the match, Okoronkwo, who started before being substituted in the second half, admitted the team came out flat and said the squad needs to regroup and address its shortcomings before the next fixture, adding, “we have to go back and learn our lesson.”
She also addressed a penalty appeal after she went down inside the box, saying she wasn’t sure what the referee saw and felt the incident should have been reviewed, but declined to dwell on the decision further.
Did You Know?
- Malawi are WAFCON debutants at this year’s tournament.
- Sisters Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga scored all three of Malawi’s goals in the match.
- Rasheedat Ajibade and Uchenna Kanu scored Nigeria’s two goals.
- Zambia beat Egypt 6-0 on the same day, with Barbra Banda scoring four goals.
- Nigeria must beat Zambia in their next group match to stay in contention for the knockout stage.
- Nigeria are the defending WAFCON champions and record 10 time winners of the tournament.
- Esther Okoronkwo was substituted in the second half of the match.
