Super Falcons midfielder Christy Ucheibe has expressed disappointment over Nigeria’s shock 3-2 defeat to Malawi but remains confident the defending champions can recover and revive their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign.
The Super Falcons suffered one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history after falling to the debutants in their Group C opener, leaving the 10-time African champions under pressure ahead of a crucial clash against Zambia.
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Reacting after the defeat, Ucheibe admitted the result was painful but insisted setbacks are part of football.
“Sometimes football can be tough, and the result doesn’t go your way. We’re disappointed because we wanted to start the tournament with a win, but we have to move forward,” Ucheibe said.
The Benfica midfielder believes Nigeria has the experience and character to respond positively, recalling how the Super Falcons recovered from an opening setback to lift the continental title in 2018.
“Something similar happened in 2018, but we bounced back and went on to win the tournament. We believe we can do the same again, and now our full focus is on beating Zambia,” she added.
Nigeria now faces a must-win encounter against the Copper Queens, who opened their campaign in emphatic fashion, making Saturday’s fixture pivotal to the Super Falcons’ hopes of reaching the knockout stage and securing qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Ucheibe stressed that the players remain united despite the disappointing start and are determined to correct the mistakes that proved costly against Malawi.
The Super Falcons will head into the Zambia showdown knowing that victory could revive their title defence and put their campaign back on course as they continue their pursuit of a record-extending 11th WAFCON crown.
