WAFCON: Okoronkwo Explains Super Falcons’ Shock Defeat to Malawi
Super Falcons midfielder Esther Okoronkwo has admitted that Nigeria’s slow start contributed to the team’s unexpected 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening Group C match of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The nine-time African champions entered the fixture as favourites but were stunned by a determined Malawi side that capitalised on defensive lapses to secure a memorable victory.
Chawinga Sisters Inspire Malawi Victory
Malawi’s success was largely driven by sisters Temwa Chawinga and Tabitha Chawinga, who proved difficult for the Nigerian defence throughout the encounter.
Temwa scored two goals, while Tabitha added another to complete the scoring for Malawi.
Nigeria responded through captain Rasheedat Ajibade and substitute Uchenna Kanu, but their efforts were not enough to prevent defeat.
Okoronkwo Admits Falcons Started Slowly
Speaking after the match, Okoronkwo acknowledged that the Super Falcons failed to begin the game with enough intensity.
She said the team looked flat in the opening stages and stressed the importance of learning from the defeat before their next fixture.
According to the midfielder, the players must review their performance, identify areas that require improvement and return with a stronger display in their upcoming match.
She expressed confidence that the squad has the quality to respond positively as the tournament progresses.
Midfielder Reacts to Penalty Incident
Okoronkwo also commented on a controversial moment during the game when she went down inside Malawi’s penalty area.
While she believed the incident deserved further review, the midfielder declined to criticize the referee’s decision.
She noted that although she felt the situation could have been checked, the officials made their decision and the team must now concentrate on preparing for the next game rather than dwelling on the outcome.
Focus Turns to Next Match
The defeat places added pressure on the Super Falcons as they seek to revive their WAFCON campaign in their remaining group matches.
Nigeria will now be aiming to bounce back with an improved performance to keep their hopes of progressing in the tournament alive.
Read Also: Super Falcons Eye WAFCON Title and World Cup Qualification
About The Author
