Nigeria’s Super Falcons secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia in their second Group C match at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday, with Asisat Oshoala’s early strike proving decisive.
The win revived Nigeria’s campaign after entering the match under pressure following Malawi’s 3-1 victory over Egypt earlier in the day. Anything less than a win would have ended the Super Falcons’ hopes of progressing from the group stage.
Oshoala put Nigeria ahead in the eighth minute, reacting quickly after her initial effort was saved. The rebound fell kindly back to the striker, who calmly slotted home to give her side an early advantage.
Nigeria’s task became significantly more difficult before halftime when defender Oluwatosin Demehin received a straight red card in the 40th minute. Reduced to 10 players, the Super Falcons were forced to defend resolutely for the remainder of the match.
Despite Zambia’s numerical advantage, Nigeria’s defense held firm to preserve the narrow lead and claim all three points.
The victory moves the Super Falcons into second place in Group C on head-to-head advantage. Nigeria must now defeat Egypt convincingly in their final group-stage fixture to secure a place in the WAFCON quarter-finals.
