Malawi Secure Historic WAFCON Upset Against Defending Champions Nigeria
Tournament debutants Malawi pulled off a historic 3-2 victory over ten-time champions Nigeria at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
The underdog Scorchers neutralized early pressure from Justin Madugu’s Super Falcons with disciplined defending and a highly organized tactical structure.
Despite dominant spells of possession from the reigning titleholders, both teams entered the halftime interval locked in a scoreless stalemate.
The match erupted in the second half when star forward Temwa Chawinga broke the deadlock in the 69th minute.
Her sister Tabitha Chawinga doubled Malawi’s lead five minutes later, though Nigeria’s captain Rasheedat Ajibade quickly answered with a 91st-minute penalty.
Temwa Chawinga then struck again deep in stoppage time to secure her brace, rendering Uchenna Kanu’s 98th-minute header a mere late consolation.
This monumental upset instantly shakes up the competitive hierarchy of Group C on the tournament’s opening matchday.
Malawi now joins a rampant Zambia squad at the top of the standings, leaving Egypt and Nigeria at the bottom.
The shell-shocked Super Falcons face an urgent quick turnaround before their high-stakes blockbuster clash against Zambia this Saturday.
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