Chiamaka Nnadozie, Super Falcons goalkeeper and vice-captain, says the team has put their disappointing 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) opener loss to Malawi behind it.
The goalkeeper said Falcons are fully focused on bouncing back against Zambia in their second Group C fixture, which is billed for 9 pm on Saturday.
The defending champions suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening group game on Tuesday, leaving them under pressure to secure a positive result to keep their qualification hopes on track.
Speaking during the pre-match press conference on Friday, Nnadozie assured Nigerian fans that the squad has undertaken a thorough review of the lapses that led to Tuesday’s defeat.
She emphasised that the team’s mindset is firmly set on redemption and execution on the pitch.
“We’ve learned from our mistakes. Now it’s about making things right,” Nnadozie said.
“We know what is expected of us, and every player in camp understands the magnitude of this game. We have analysed where things went wrong against Malawi, worked hard on the training pitch, and our focus is entirely on taking all three points against Zambia.”
Addressing the challenge posed by the Copper Queens, Nnadozie expressed complete confidence in the squad’s preparation and collective resolve to get their campaign back on track.
“Zambia is a strong side with quality players, but we are Nigeria. We respect them, but we are not afraid of any team. The mood in camp remains positive, and everyone is ready to go out there and execute the game plan.”
The Super Falcons will look to claim their first points of the tournament when they take on Zambia on Saturday in Rabat.
The 2026 WAFCON also doubles as the qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup, with all four semi-finalists assured automatic tickets to the global event.