Will Nigeria's women's team rebound to secure their 11th championship at the WAFCON tournament?

Tournament debutants Malawi pulled off a stunning upset in Rabat, Morocco, on Tuesday, defeating record champions Nigeria 3-2 in their Group C opener, leaving many to question Nigeria's chances of winning their 11th WAFCON title and qualifying for the FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil.

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The Scorchers, playing their first match at the continental finals, scored three second-half goals at Al Madina Stadium, with Temwa Chawinga netting Malawi's first and third goals, and her sister Tabita Chawinga adding the second, giving the debutants a remarkable 3-1 lead deep into stoppage time.

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Nigeria responded with a Rasheedat Ajibade penalty and a late Uchenna Kanu goal, but the Super Falcons were unable to complete the comeback, ending their proud record of never losing to a debutant team at the WAFCON since the competition began in 1998.

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For Malawi, the victory marked a historic statement on their tournament debut, while for Nigeria, it was a damaging start to their title defence, serving as a reminder that their status alone will not be enough in Morocco.

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The Chawinga sisters led the charge for Malawi, producing a remarkable spell that left the Super Falcons struggling to complete passes, with their organisation and discipline keeping Nigeria frustrated throughout the opening period.

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As the match remained goalless, Malawi grew in belief, eventually shredding the script of the Super Falcons, who arrived as the hottest favourites with 10 titles and their stars emblazoned on their jersey.

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Chief coach Justine Madugu, stunned by the defeat, urged his team to bounce back, saying, "That's football for you, it happens, and I'm happy it happened at the Group stage where we still have two games to bounce back."

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Asisat Oshoala also rallied her teammates, saying, "It hurts, but it's not the end of the road, we've to look inward, find out what happened, correct it, and get back to winning ways, there's light at the end of the tunnel."

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Oshoala drew inspiration from countries that have overcome similar setbacks, citing Spain's 2010 World Cup victory, where they lost their first group stage match, and Argentina's 2022 World Cup win, where they suffered a shock defeat in their first match.

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Esther Okoronkwo, one of the most exciting players in the Super Falcons fold, also reflected on AFCON 2023, where Cote d'Ivoire suffered humiliation in the group stage but went on to win the title, saying, "We've to reinvent our mentality in our next two games, let's not dwell on the defeat and mourn without hope."

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Okoronkwo was the inspiration behind Nigeria's run to a record-extending 10th title last year, with two goals and six assists, and will be crucial in the team's bid to bounce back from the Malawi setback.

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Francisca Ordega and Osinachi Ohale, who currently play for Ittihad Ladies in Saudi Arabia and Pachuca Tuzas in Mexico, respectively, are the most decorated players in WAFCON history, with five titles each, and will be key to the Super Falcons' chances of winning a sixth title.

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Nigeria's dominance in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations is unparalleled, with 10 WAFCON titles, making them the most successful team in the tournament's history, with championship victories in 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2016, 2018, and 2024.

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The Super Falcons have reached 10 WAFCON finals and won every one of them, giving them a perfect record in championship matches, with their famous green jersey now carrying 10 stars above the crest, representing each continental title.