WAFCON 2026: Esther Okoronkwo Hopeful Of A Positive Turnaround Despite Malawi Defeat

By Saheed Afolabi

Defending champions and 10-time Women’s Africa Cup Of Nations (WAFCON) winners, Nigeria suffered an embarrassing 3-2 defeat to Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Tuesday night.

This however, ended the Falcons record of never losing to a debutant side at the competition. Malawi’s Chawinga sisters produced a clinical second-half display to stun Africa’s most successful team.

Temwa Chawinga broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute and completed her brace deep in stoppage time, while Tabitha Chawinga added a second goal in the 79th minute. Nigeria fought back late through a Rasheedat Ajibade penalty in the second minute of added time and a Uchenna Kanu strike in the ninth minute of stoppage time, but the comeback couldn’t level the scoreline.

Reflecting on the result, Okoronkwo admitted the Falcons started poorly and must learn from their shortcomings to reposition their title defense in the right direction.

“We’ve learned our lesson, and we’re going to come back better in the next game,” she said.

Expanding on the performance, the midfielder set her sights on the next game while acknowledging the team’s lapses will be fixed.

 “Next game we have to come back better. In this game, we came out a little flat.

“But it is what it is, we have to go back and learn our lesson and learn where we should fix and come back better in the next game.”

Okoronkwo also addressed a penalty appeal after she was brought down inside the box, choosing not to dwell on the referee’s decision.

“I don’t know what the referee saw but I think it should have been looked at, but it is what it is. I didn’t get it, so I won’t talk about it or complain about it.”

The Super Falcons face Zambia in their second match on Saturday, August 1 at the same venue in Rabat as they look to revive their title defence.