By Dorcas Francis Koji
Super Falcons defender Michelle Alozie says Nigeria’s narrow victory over Zambia at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations was proof that the team had learned valuable lessons from its disappointing opening defeat to Malawi.
Alozie delivered a commanding performance at the heart of Nigeria’s defence to earn the Player of the Match award as the Super Falcons battled to a hard earned 1-0 victory despite playing with 10 players for most of the encounter.
The Falcons suffered an early setback when defender Tosin Demehin was shown a straight red card in the 40th minute. However, Asisat Oshoala’s early strike in the eighth minute proved decisive as Nigeria held firm to secure three vital points and revive its campaign.
Speaking after the match, Alozie praised her teammates for their determination and resilience against one of the tournament’s strongest attacking sides.
“We knew Zambia would be a difficult opponent because of their pace, physicality and technical quality,” she said.
“Our experience against Malawi taught us important lessons, especially defensively. We knew we had to adjust our positioning, stay compact and remain disciplined throughout the game.”
The Houston Dash defender also paid tribute to Demehin, whose dismissal forced Nigeria to defend with a numerical disadvantage for more than half of the contest.
“Tosin gave everything for the team. It was unfortunate that she received the red card, but I’m proud of the way everyone came together, fought for one another and managed to hold on for the victory,” Alozie added.
The win keeps Nigeria’s hopes of reaching the knockout stage alive after the opening defeat left the defending champions under pressure.
Elsewhere in Group C, Malawi strengthened its position with a 3-1 victory over Egypt to move to the top of the standings on six points. Zambia remain second on three points, while Nigeria are level on points in third, with Egypt still without a point.
The Super Falcons must now produce another strong performance against Egypt in their final group match while keeping an eye on the outcome of the clash between Malawi and Zambia as they pursue a place in the quarter-finals.
Nigeria continues its quest for a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title while also chasing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.
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