The Nigeria Women’s National team, the Super Falcons edged Zambia’s Copper Queens 1-0 in their second TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 Group C match.
Six time Africa Women’s Footballer of the year, Asisat Lamina Oshoala scored the only goal of the game.
Coach Nora Elizabeth Häuptle made no changes to the team that Egypt 6-0 while her counterpart Justine Madugu made five changes. Super Falcons
Assisat Oshoala , Christie Ucheibe, Uchenna Kanu , Deborah Abiodun and Rofiat Imuran came on for Esther Okoronkwo , Folashade Ijamilusi , Halimatu Ayinde , Chinwendu Ihezu and Shukurat Oladipo.
Zambia started the match with intensity while Nigeria sat back and looked to be trying to utilize long balls to exploit the space between the defenders and goalkeeper Hazel Nali.
Nigeria’s strategy almost paid off in the first three minutes as a long searching ball found Oshoala in acres of space but Hazel Nali did well to stop the threat.
Four minutes later, the same sequence paid off, Oshoala outpaced the Zambia defense to find herself with only the goalkeeper to beat, Nali did to stop the initial shot only for the ball to ricochet off Oshoala, 1-0.
After the goal both teams could not create clear chances with only fouls being conceded.
In the 25th minute, Barbra Banda won a free kick in a good area after being fouled by Oluwatosin Demehin who received a yellow card but after a VAR review the card was rescinded and free kick canceled under unclear circumstances.
Ten minutes later, Banda won another free kick after being impinged on by Demehin. The Nigerian received a yellow card for her troubles but after a VAR review , the card was upgraded to a red card for stopping a goal scoring opportunity, Nigeria reduced to ten men.
Banda who was having a quiet night appealed for a penalty after she looked to have been hacked in the box but the referee waved her away.
Nigeria captain Ajibade was shown a yellow card for pulling Margaret Belemu a minute before halftime. The match went to the break with Nigeria in the lead.
Coach Nora Häuptle introduced Enelesi Phiri and rested Rhoda Chileshe at the start of the second half.
Later on Evarine Susan Katongo came on for Ireen Lungu, Mercy Chipasula was introduced for Prisca Chilufya and Saliya Mwanza for Rachel Nachula in a bit to inject some energy and creativity.
Coach Nora was forced to make a substitution after Racheal Kundananji limped out after being injured.
Zambia threw everything at Nigeria but they were not clinical and too much in really failing to create a proper goal scoring opportunity, 1-0 the match end.
Zambia will now focus their attention to the match against Malawi as they need a win to qualify.
Full Time
Nigeria 1-0 Zambia
(A. Ashoala 8′)
