Falcons begin WAFCON title defence with shocking loss to Malawi
Nigeria's Super Falcons suffered a surprise 3-2 defeat against Malawi in their opening match of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. The loss puts immediate pressure on the defending champions as they look to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Why it matters
This result represents a significant upset in African women's football, impacting the tournament standings and future World Cup qualification paths.
The Super Falcons of Nigeria suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening Group C match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco on Tuesday.
The Falcons were left reeling after an poor second-half collapse at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, putting immediate pressure on their title defence and their chance to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Justin Madugu’s looked disjointed and a spectre of the record-extending team that won the competition last year. For most of the first half, the team struggled for equal footing against the Malawian, who were playing their first-ever WAFCON match.
The match was goalless at halftime, giving little hint of the chaotic second period that was to follow.
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