Nigeria head coach Justine Madugu has promised a different tactical approach and an all-or-nothing mentality as the Super Falcons prepare for a crucial Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group B showdown against Zambia.
The nine-time African champions head into the contest under immense pressure after suffering a shock 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi, a result that has left their quarter-final hopes hanging by a thread.
By contrast, Zambia arrive full of confidence after dismantling Egypt 6-0, with captain Barbra Banda scoring four goals in a commanding display.
A victory for Zambia would secure their place in the quarter-finals, while defeat for Nigeria would eliminate the Super Falcons from the competition and end their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup through WAFCON.
“We have a new competition, another competition that we are participating in. We are not using the results of last year to make our assessment,” Madugu told reporters.
“We are looking at what the Zambian team is doing currently and what their strategy is. Of course, we know they are confident after their victory over Egypt. Just as we too are hurt by the defeat in our last game, we don’t want to approach this match with the mentality of accepting defeat. We are coming out to get the result that we want.”
The 61-year-old insisted Nigeria would not underestimate the Copper Queens despite the Super Falcons’ dominant record in previous meetings.
“Any game you play, your ultimate goal is to win. We know what is at stake. It’s an outright win or nothing for us, so we are not taking it for granted by any means.”
Madugu admitted Nigeria had learned painful lessons from their previous encounter with Zambia and revealed that extensive tactical analysis had been carried out ahead of the decisive fixture.
“We have analysed what happened last year and where we got it wrong. We have to blame ourselves because we didn’t do certain things right.
“The plan we had was to press high and force turnovers closer to their goal, but we were also aware that we could become vulnerable in transition. It simply didn’t work out the way we expected.
“For the Zambia game we have worked on different things. They are watching us just as we are analysing ourselves. We are looking at everyone’s movement and how to capitalise.”
The Nigerian coach added that the stakes extend beyond the tournament itself, with World Cup qualification on the line.
“We are fully aware of the consequences of not winning and the importance of this edition because it gives us the opportunity to play at the World Cup.
“We all want to be there because of what Nigeria brings to the world stage. Playing at the World Cup creates opportunities for our players, our journalists, the business community and many others. We don’t want to be part of something negative.
“We have made mistakes, but our fate is still in our hands and we will do everything possible to make sure we qualify.”
Madugu also defended his tactical decisions from Nigeria’s previous outing, accepting responsibility for the team’s shortcomings.
“In the last edition, Rachida was alternating between midfield and the right wing and nobody questioned it because everything went well. Now that it went wrong, there will naturally be questions. I take responsibility for all that and I hope to do better in the next game.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie admitted criticism comes with the position but said the support of her teammates and coaches has helped her remain focused.
“I’m doing very well. I’m okay and I’m fine,” Nnadozie said.
“We all know how football is and how the media works. You can do 100 good things and one mistake can overshadow everything.
“It’s especially difficult for goalkeepers. When a striker misses a chance or a defender makes a mistake, people may not notice as much. But when a goalkeeper makes a mistake, the ball ends up in the net.
“My teammates, my coaches and my close friends have all been behind me. They’ve supported me and I’m doing everything I can to keep improving.”
Saturday’s encounter will be the fifth meeting between the two nations at WAFCON. Nigeria have won three of the previous four meetings, recording 6-0, 4-0 and 5-0 victories in the 2014, 2018 and 2024 editions respectively. Zambia’s only success came in the third-place play-off at the 2022 tournament, when Evarine Susan Katongo scored the only goal in a famous 1-0 victory.
With history favouring Nigeria but current form firmly on Zambia’s side, Saturday’s clash promises to be one of the defining matches of the group stage.
