Nigeria head coach Justine Madugu believes Zambia’s Copper Queens have made significant progress despite handing them a damaging 1-0 defeat at the 2026 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
The Super Falcons bounced back from a shock 3-2 defeat to Malawi by edging Zambia at Al Madina Stadium on Saturday, with Asisat Oshoala’s eighth-minute strike proving enough to seal all three points in a fiercely contested Group C encounter.
For Zambia, the defeat halted the momentum built by their emphatic 6-0 victory over Egypt and leaves the Copper Queens needing a win against unbeaten Malawi in their final group match to secure a place in the quarter-finals.
Speaking after the match, Madugu insisted the result should not overshadow the quality of Nora Häuptle’s side, whom he described as a vastly improved team.
“It’s a much improved team because, you know, a team coming from a 6-0 win, naturally the confidence will be there,” Madugu said.
“Even the way they started, you could see their approach to the game. Within the first 10 or 15 minutes, they were pushing to make sure that they got something.”
“We knew they would also come at us, and that was why we tried to make sure that we don’t give them the kind of space they would need to do what they do.”
“But on a general note, they are not a bad side. They have improved also. That we beat them today is one of those things in football that you must take.”
Madugu revealed that Nigeria’s response was driven by the disappointment of their opening defeat to Malawi, knowing that anything less than victory would have left the nine-time champions on the brink of elimination.
“What made the difference was our determination to ensure that we picked the three points, knowing fully well the result of the last game,” he said.
“We knew that other than a win, nothing takes us forward. That’s why we had to put in everything to make sure that we got the win.”
“I really must appreciate the girls for the kind of energy and effort they put in trying to make sure that they kept their lead. They put in everything to win the game.”
The 61-year-old also brushed aside criticism that followed Nigeria’s surprise defeat to Malawi, saying setbacks are part of football and that coaches must accept scrutiny.
“Sometimes you have bad days and things don’t just work for you,” he explained.
“We learned from what happened in the last game. We got the team better, had a better game plan and eventually we got the result.”
“As a coach, you must learn to live with criticism because you cannot please everybody. You have to believe in what you do. If it works, fine. If it doesn’t, you must be ready to take the blame because that’s the nature of the job.”
Madugu praised his players’ adaptability after they were forced to reorganise defensively following a red card, explaining that the versatility within his squad allowed Nigeria to remain on the front foot rather than retreat.
“We have versatile players who can play in different positions, so we never panicked,” he said.
“We didn’t want to sit back and allow Zambia to come at us because that could also be dangerous. We wanted to keep playing, keep believing we could win and possibly get a second goal on the counter.”
He also highlighted the mentality that has defined the Super Falcons over recent years.
“It says so much about this team. They have a lot of character and they never give up until the end,” Madugu said.
“Even when we are leading, we don’t stop playing. Once they hear the final whistle, that’s when the team relaxes. Until then, they keep believing and keep fighting.”
Despite the victory, the Nigerian coach admitted he is concerned by the growing number of yellow cards accumulated by his squad, warning that disciplinary lapses could prove costly in the knockout rounds.
“It calls for concern because when you meet stronger opposition, one mistake can punish you and end your tournament,” he said.
“We have to look at it and minimise the mistakes that put us in danger.”
The result leaves Group C finely balanced heading into the final round of fixtures. Zambia must overcome an in-form Malawi side to keep their WAFCON dream alive, while Nigeria will face Egypt knowing another victory could secure their place in the quarter-finals.
