Super Falcons midfielder Deborah Abiodun has hailed the collective effort of her teammates after Nigeria secured a vital 1-0 victory over Zambia at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), insisting the result was a true reflection of the squad’s unity and resilience.
The 10-time African champions bounced back from their opening defeat to Malawi with a determined display in Rabat, holding off the Copper Queens despite playing with 10 players for more than half of the encounter following Tosin Demehin’s first-half red card.
Speaking after the match, Abiodun praised the commitment shown by every member of the squad, stressing that the victory was achieved through teamwork rather than individual brilliance.
“It was a complete team effort. Everyone gave everything on the pitch, and even the players on the bench played their part by encouraging and supporting us throughout the game,” Abiodun said.
The midfielder admitted the numerical disadvantage made the contest even more demanding but said the players remained united and determined to secure the three points.
“We knew we had to fight for each other after the red card. The most important thing was getting the victory and making Nigerians proud after what happened in our first match,” she added.
Abiodun described the response against Zambia as evidence of the character within the Super Falcons camp, noting that the players were determined to prove the defeat to Malawi was only a temporary setback.
The victory has placed Nigeria back in control of its qualification hopes ahead of the decisive final Group C fixture against Egypt on Wednesday, with a win guaranteeing a place in the quarter-finals.
Abiodun believes the performance against Zambia has restored confidence within the squad as the Super Falcons continue their pursuit of a record-extending 11th WAFCON title, while also keeping alive their ambition of securing qualification for the knockout stage.
