Nigeria head coach Justin Madugu says the Super Falcons are fully focused on beating Zambia in Saturday’s crucial Group C encounter, insisting his side is determined to revive its 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign.
The defending champions head into the match under immense pressure after suffering a stunning 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi, while Zambia made an emphatic start by thrashing Egypt 6-0 to move top of the group.
Although Nigeria comfortably defeated Zambia 5-0 in the quarterfinals of the previous WAFCON, Madugu stressed that past meetings will have no bearing on Saturday’s contest.
“Last year is last year. That is history. We have a new game. We have a new competition that we are participating in. We are not using the result of last year to make our assessment,” Madugu said during his pre-match press conference in Rabat.
The Super Falcons coach acknowledged Zambia’s impressive opening performance but insisted Nigeria remains fully focused on securing the victory they desperately need.
“We are looking at what the Zambian team is doing currently and what their current status is. Of course, we are well aware that their confidence will be boosted by the victory over Egypt, just as we too are pained by the defeat in our last game.”
Madugu made it clear that his players will approach the match with only one objective.
“We will not also want to approach the game in the manner that we look defeated. We are coming out to ensure that we get the result that we want.”
“Any game you play, your ultimate goal is to win. We are coming into this game knowing what is at stake. It’s an outright win or nothing for us, so we are not taking it for granted by any means.”
The stakes could hardly be higher. A victory for the Copper Queens would guarantee qualification for the quarterfinals with one match to spare, while another defeat for Nigeria would result in the Super Falcons suffering a historic first-ever group-stage elimination at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
