Malawi Shocks Super Falcons in WAFCON Opening Match
In a remarkable turn of events in African women's football, debutant team Malawi stunned the ten-time champions Nigeria with a nail-biting 3-2 victory in the opening match of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) held at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat. The match, which took place on Tuesday night, is set to be remembered as one of the biggest upsets in the tournament's history, showcasing Malawi's determination and skill on the continental stage.
The Super Falcons started strong, dominating possession and generating numerous scoring opportunities, yet they failed to capitalize on their dominance during a goalless first half. The match, however, ignited dramatically in the last twenty minutes. Malawi's Temwa Chawinga broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute, finding the net and giving her team the lead. Just six minutes later, her sister, Tabitha Chawinga, extended Malawi's advantage with a second goal, leaving Nigeria in a precarious position.
As the clock ticked down, Nigerian captain Rasheedat Ajibade reignited hopes for the Super Falcons by converting a penalty in the 90th minute, closing the gap to 2-1. However, Malawi's Temwa Chawinga struck again deep into stoppage time, netting her second goal in the 96th minute, which restored a two-goal cushion for her team. Although Nigeria fought back with a goal from substitute Uchenna Kanu shortly thereafter, bringing the score to 3-2, they ultimately ran out of time, marking a disappointing start to their title defense.
With Zambia also making waves in the tournament by scoring six goals against Egypt in their opening match, the Super Falcons now face a critical challenge in their upcoming Group C fixture against the Zambians. A win is essential for Nigeria to get their qualification campaign back on track and avoid an early exit from the tournament.
As reported by thisdaylive.com.
