In what will go down as one of the biggest upsets in the history of African women’s football, the reigning champions dominated large spells of the contest but were ruthlessly punished by an inspired Malawi side led by the devastating Chawinga sisters
Nigeria’s quest for a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title got off to a disastrous start on Tuesday after the Super Falcons slumped to a stunning 3-2 defeat against tournament debutants Malawi at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
Temwa Chawinga broke the deadlock in the 69th minute before her elder sister, Tabitha Chawinga, doubled Malawi’s advantage five minutes later.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade converted a stoppage-time penalty in the 92nd minute to revive Nigeria’s hopes, but Temwa struck again three minutes later following a lightning-fast counterattack to restore the Scorchers’ two-goal cushion.
Although substitute Uchenna Kanu pulled another goal back in the 98th minute, it proved nothing more than a consolation as Malawi celebrated a famous victory on their WAFCON debut.
The result leaves head coach Justin Madugu and his players under immense pressure heading into a must-win Group C encounter against Zambia, while Malawi have firmly announced themselves as serious contenders for a place in the knockout stages.
PREMIUM TIMES examines six major takeaways from Tuesday’s game in Rabat…
Chawinga sisters exposed Nigeria’s fragile defensive structure
Perhaps the biggest concern for Nigeria was not the defeat itself but the manner in which it happened. From the opening whistle, Malawi’s game plan was obvious; sit compact, absorb pressure and release the Chawinga sisters at every opportunity.
It worked to devastating effect.
Nigeria pushed their full-backs high up the pitch for long spells, committing numbers forward in search of an early breakthrough. But every turnover exposed huge spaces behind the defence, with the midfield offering little protection for an increasingly vulnerable backline, as there was no recognised sitting defensive midfielder to mop up lose balls in failed transitions.
Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga repeatedly attacked those spaces with pace and precision, leaving Nigeria’s central defenders isolated in one-on-one situations.
Temwa’s opening goal perfectly illustrated the problem as Malawi transitioned quickly from defence to attack before punishing another exposed Nigerian backline.
Her second goal deep into stoppage time was even more damning, after another swift counterattack, she raced clear before calmly lifting the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to complete a memorable brace.
Those defensive frailties will alarm the Nigerian coaching crew, especially with Zambia and African superstar Barbra Banda awaiting in the next group fixture.
If similar spaces are left open against the Copper Queens, Nigeria’s hopes of retaining the continental title would disappear before the knockout rounds.
Statistics alone told only part of the story, as Nigeria controlled possession for long periods, especially throughout the first half, but lacked the cutting edge expected of defending champions.
The Super Falcons circulated the ball well, forced Malawi deep into their own half and delivered several crosses into dangerous areas.
Yet there was little conviction in the final third, as the movement inside the penalty area was poor, the final pass from a half fit Esther Okoronkwo frequently lacked quality, and clear-cut chances were few despite Nigeria’s territorial dominance.
But, credit must also go to Malawi, led superbly by Rose Alufandika, the Scorchers defended with discipline and composure, maintaining a compact defensive shape that frustrated the Falcons throughout the contest.
Their aggressive pressing also forced Nigeria into hurried long balls that were comfortably dealt with by the Malawian defence.
By the time Ajibade converted from the penalty spot in stoppage time, Nigeria were already desperately chasing the game, but Championship-winning teams punish opponents early.
Instead, Nigeria allowed Malawi to remain organised, grow in confidence and execute their counterattacking plan to perfection.
The defeat is also likely to intensify scrutiny of Justin Madugu’s tactical choices and in-game management.
The decision to start veteran defender Osinachi Ohale against arguably the quickest attacking partnership in African women’s football proved costly.
While Ohale’s experience remains invaluable, she struggled to cope with the pace and movement of Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga, who repeatedly exploited the space behind Nigeria’s defensive line.
There were also questions over the personnel available on the bench. A pairing involving Tosin Demehin and reigning Serie A Women’s Best Defender Sukurat Oladipo, or even Christy Ucheibe who has been used as a center back lately alongside Demehin, would have provided greater recovery pace against Malawi’s direct attacking style.
Madugu’s substitutions also invited criticism, as six-time African Women’s Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala was only introduced in the 83rd minute despite Nigeria trailing by two goals.
By then, Malawi had retreated into a compact defensive block, leaving the experienced striker with little opportunity to influence proceedings.
There were also calls for earlier tactical adjustments after halftime. Nigeria continued to rely heavily on low deliveries and set-piece routines delivered by Esther Okoronkwo, despite Malawi comfortably dealing with those situations throughout the game.
