Tournament debutants Malawi pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), defeating Nigeria's Super Falcons 3-2 in their Group C opener at the 2026 tournament in Morocco.
The thrilling encounter, played at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, saw the Southern Africans announce their arrival on the continental stage with a memorable victory over the record 10-time African champions.
The first half ended goalless, with the Super Falcons dominating possession but failing to break down Malawi's disciplined defensive setup.
The game came alive after the break as five goals were scored in an action-packed second half. Malawi's attack, inspired by the outstanding Chawinga sisters, proved too much for the Nigerian defence. Temwa Chawinga scored twice, while her sister, Tabitha Chawinga, added the third to hand the debutants a famous victory.
Nigeria mounted a late comeback through goals from captain Rasheedat Ajibade and striker Uchenna Kanu, but it was not enough to prevent the Super Falcons from suffering a disappointing opening-day defeat.
The result marks a dream start for Malawi in their first-ever WAFCON appearance and sends a strong message to the rest of the competition.
Goalscorers
Malawi
Temwa Chawinga – 2 goals
Tabitha Chawinga – 1 goal
Nigeria
Rasheedat Ajibade – 1 goal
Uchenna Kanu – 1 goal
Group C Standings After Matchday One
Zambia – 3 points (+1)
Malawi – 3 points (+1)
Nigeria – 0 points (-1)
Egypt – 0 points (-1)
The defeat leaves Nigeria with plenty of work to do in their remaining group matches as they seek qualification for the knockout stage and continue their quest for an 11th WAFCON title, while Malawi will look to build on their historic winning start.
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