Sports:
Nigeria’s Super Falcons Kickoff 11th WAFCON Title Quest Vs Malawi
The 2026 WAFCON carries double the stakes for the undisputed African football queens — a record-extending 11th trophy and a direct ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup are on the line.
Nigeria’s Super Falcons celebrate with the trophy on the podium after winning the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations final football match against Morocco at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on July 26, 2025. (Photo by Abdel Majid BZIOUAT / AFP)
For 10 times, the Super Falcons have conquered African football. On Tuesday, the team returns to the pitch under the floodlights in Rabat to begin their quest for another title in the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) against Malawi.
The 2026 WAFCON carries double the stakes for the undisputed African football queens — a record-extending 11th trophy and a direct ticket to the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup are on the line.
This year’s tournament serves as the qualification route for the World Cup in Brazil, with semi-finalists guaranteed a ticket to the competition.
But for the Super Falcons, the job starts against the Scorchers of Malawi – led by the Chawinga sisters – at the Stade El Barid, Rabat. The aim: get all three points and a statement that they are in Morocco for business.
Against the debutants, Nigeria will seek to produce another masterclass in Rabat — the city where they had to dig deep to defeat hosts Morocco in the final last year.
Coach Justine Madugu’s side parades a roster of experienced and youthful players plying their trade in Europe, the US, and North America.
The Super Falcons defeated the Benin Republic to qualify for the competition.
Malawi’s story is, however, different. The Scorchers are featuring in the tournament for the first time and are understandably considered outsiders. The East Africans have the Chawinga sisters — Temwa and Tabitha — leading the line. A win for either team could prove crucial in their WAFCON campaign.
Expectedly, Nigeria enter the fray as Africa’s most-decorated women’s side and the highest-ranked team and know that nothing less than a win is needed to make life easier for them.
Madugu’s team enter the competition high on confidence following a 2-1 victory over Tanzania in their last warm-up match.
Their opponents had a different storyline and came into Morocco after years of clashes between players and the football federation. But they will now face their biggest test against a Super Falcons’ side who are not tired of winning.
Malawi lost 4-0 to Ghana in a friendly match ahead of the WAFCON. But Coach Lovemore Fazili’s side will have to quickly rally themselves to stand any chance of getting something out of the match with Nigeria.
Nigeria vs Malawi: Head-to-Head Record
Although the Super Falcons of Nigeria and Malawi have not met at the WAFCON, both sides faced each other in the qualifiers for the 2014 African Women’s Championship. In the first leg at home, Malawi got a hard-fought 1-1 draw, but Nigeria defeated the Scorchers 2-0 in the reverse fixture. The Super Falcons have met them twice, won once, and drawn once.
While things have shaped up better for the Malawians, especially with the Chawinga sisters, the odds favour Nigeria heading into Tuesday’s game.
Nigeria vs Malawi – Team News
Nigeria have no injury worries ahead of the clash, bar the absence of defender Ashleigh Plumptre, who is missing the tournament due to her recovery from injury. Madugu has a full complement of players to call on against the Scorchers. The Nigerian bench is not short of options either.
For Malawi, they will bank on captain Temwa Chawinga of Kansas City alongside her sister Tabitha. Their attack firepower is expected to add extra impetus to the Scorchers in the Group C clash.
Nigeria vs Malawi — Date, Kickoff Time
Tournament: Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026
Fixture: Nigeria vs Malawi
Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026
Kick-off time: 9:00 pm (Nigeria time/WAT)
Venue: Stade El Barid, Rabat, Morocco
