Super Falcons forward Asisat Oshoala has urged Nigerians to continue supporting the team as they seek to recover from their shock opening defeat to Malawi at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.
Tournament debutants Malawi announced their arrival in stunning fashion on Tuesday, beating 10-time champions Nigeria 3-2 in a thrilling Group C encounter in Rabat.
The Chawinga sisters, Temwa and Tabitha, combined to inflict a memorable defeat on the Falcons, with Temwa scoring twice in a performance that exposed the vulnerabilities of Africa’s most successful women’s national team.
Oshoala started the match on the bench and replaced Esther Okoronkwo in the 83rd minute.
However, the veteran striker was unable to make a decisive impact despite Nigeria’s late rally before Malawi sealed the victory with a third goal.
Ahead of the Falcons’ remaining two group matches, the 31-year-old believes there is still enough time for the team to respond.
“It’s still a long competition, so there is still a lot of time to prepare for the next game,” she told journalists after the match.
“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.”
Oshoala, a six-time winner of the CAF Women’s Player of the Year award and one of the biggest figures in African women’s football, admitted that the traditional gap between Nigeria and the rest of the continent is narrowing.
“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,” Oshoala said.
The Super Falcons are currently third in Group C without a point and will face group leaders Zambia on Saturday before concluding their group campaign against Egypt.
Nigeria must win both matches to guarantee qualification for the quarter-finals before attempting to secure a place in the last four, which would also earn the team qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil. (Punch)
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