WAFCON 2026: Nigeria vs Malawi – Preview, team news, and H2H as Super Falcons eye three points

The Super Falcons begin the defence of their Women’s Africa Cup of Nations crown on Tuesday, July 28, when they face Malawi’s Scorchers in Group C at the Stade El-Barid, Afrik Foot reports.

Nigeria arrive in Morocco as ten-time champions chasing a record-extending 11th continental title, and this opening fixture against tournament debutants is widely viewed as the most winnable of their three group games.

Malawi, by contrast, are simply happy to be here. The Scorchers reached WAFCON for the first time by beating Angola over two legs in qualifying, and their squad is built around the Chawinga sisters, Tabitha and Temwa, who both play their club football in Europe and the United States.

A place among the top two in Group C would send Malawi into the knockout stage on debut, but few expect that journey to begin with anything other than a difficult afternoon against Justine Madugu’s side.

Justine Pwandi Madugu, Head Coach of the Super Falcons. Copyright: ImagoxAdekunlexAjayi

Super Falcons Chase Perfect WAFCON Start Against Malawi

Nigeria head into this tournament on the back of one of the most memorable triumphs in the competition’s history.

Twelve months ago, in this same city, the Super Falcons came from two goals down to beat hosts Morocco 3-2 in the final, sealing a tenth WAFCON title and sending Madugu into the record books.

No side has dominated women’s football on the continent quite like Nigeria, who have won ten of the 13 editions played since 1998 and four of the last five outright.

This time, the stakes carry extra weight beyond the trophy itself. WAFCON 2026 doubles as a qualifying tournament for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four semi-finalists booking automatic places and the fifth-placed side heading into an intercontinental play-off.

Reigning WAFCON champions Super Falcons of Nigeria. Photo by Mansa Ayoola. Copyright: IMAGO

The bigger tests in Group C are still to come, with Zambia’s Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji waiting on August 1 and Egypt closing out the group on August 5.

Zambia in particular are seen as Nigeria’s sternest group rival, though the Copper Queens were thrashed 5-0 by the Super Falcons in the quarter-final of the last edition.

Malawi’s route to Morocco has been a different story altogether. The Scorchers secured qualification in October 2025 by eliminating Angola on aggregate, a result the Football Association of Malawi has treated as a landmark moment for the women’s game in the country.

Malawi’s warm-up form has been mixed. A 4-0 defeat to Ghana in a pre-tournament friendly exposed defensive issues that head coach Lovemore Fazili would need to work on if his side are to go far in this tournament.

Jasoda Munda of India competes with Madyina Nguluwe of Malawi. Copyright: Imago

Nigeria’s preparations, meanwhile, have looked considerably smoother, highlighted by back-to-back friendly wins over Senegal last month that gave Madugu’s group valuable rhythm heading into Rabat. The 2-1 win over Tanzania in a friendly would also do well to boost the team’s confidence.

Nigeria vs Malawi Head-to-Head Record

There is essentially no history between these two nations at senior level. Tuesday’s match is understood to be the first competitive senior meeting between Nigeria and Malawi, meaning there is no head-to-head record.

That lack of history cuts both ways. Nigeria cannot lean on past dominance over the Scorchers, but Malawi also arrive with no psychological fear or scar tissue from previous defeats to the Super Falcons.

Nigeria go into this game with a record of near-total control over WAFCON debutants. Newcomers to the tournament have historically struggled to make an early impact against established nations, and Nigeria’s squad depth, physicality and tournament experience make them heavy favourites to continue that trend tomorrow.

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade. Photo by Mansa Ayoola. Copyright: IMAGO

Team News: Injuries, Doubts and Predicted Lineups

Madugu’s biggest team news heading into the tournament is the absence of defender Ashleigh Plumptre, who continues to recover from a foot injury that required surgery and was left out of the final 25-player squad.

Plumptre was a key figure in last year’s triumph, and her absence leaves a gap in experience at the back, though Nigeria retain plenty of cover with Osinachi Ohale, Michelle Alozie and Oluwatosin Demehin all included.

There is better news in attack. Esther Okoronkwo has been passed fit after recovering from a meniscus tear sustained while playing club football in Canada, giving Madugu another attacking option from the opening game.

Toni Payne arrives fresh off a move to Inter Milan, while captain Rasheedat Ajibade, goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie and six-time African Women’s Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala all remain the spine of the side that won it all in 2025.

Nigeria predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Nnadozie; Alozie, Ohale, Demehin, Rofiat Imuran; Ayinde, Abiodun; Okoronkwo, Ajibade, Babajide; Oshoala.

For Malawi, the headline team news is more positive than negative. Vice-captain Temwa Chawinga has returned to the squad after missing recent matches through club commitments in the United States, giving Fazili his full attacking arsenal from game one.

Defender Chimwemwe Madise and midfielder Rose Kadzere both arrive with regular European club football behind them, which should help settle nerves against a Nigeria side with far greater tournament experience.

The 4-0 friendly defeat to Ghana raised questions over Malawi’s defensive organisation, and many expect Fazili to make late adjustments to shore up a backline that will face relentless pressure from Nigeria’s attack.

Malawi predicted XI (4-3-3): Sikelo; Madise, Mkandawire, Tionge Phiri, Phikani; Kadzere, Chimzimu, Gondwe; Thom, Tabitha Chawinga, Temwa Chawinga.

The Managers: Madugu vs Fazili

Justin Madugu is proof that patience in coaching can eventually be rewarded. The 62-year-old spent over a decade working through Nigeria’s youth and senior women’s setups as an assistant, including four previous WAFCON tournaments on the bench, before finally being given the top job on an interim basis.

He spectacularly repaid that trust last year, guiding the Super Falcons to a 3-2 comeback win over Morocco in the final and earning Coach of the Tournament honours in the process.

Madugu holds a CAF A coaching licence along with two master’s degrees, in sports psychology and sports management.

Justine Madugu. Photo by IMAGO

Lovemore Fazili’s challenge is almost the opposite of Madugu’s. Where Nigeria’s coach inherited a squad he already knew intimately, Fazili is guiding Malawi through entirely uncharted territory as the country’s first-ever WAFCON head coach.

The Football Association of Malawi has strengthened his bench for the tournament, bringing in South African-based technical adviser Sudesh Singh to satisfy CAF’s requirement that the lead coach hold an A licence, alongside performance analyst Tyrese Steyn.

Tactical Preview: How Nigeria and Malawi Could Line Up

Expect Nigeria to set up in a variation of the 4-2-3-1 that won them the title last year, built around quick transitions, aggressive pressing in wide areas and the movement of Ajibade and Oshoala between the lines.

Ayinde and Echegini give Madugu control in central midfield, allowing full-backs Alozie and Imuran to push forward and support the front three, particularly given the lack of expected resistance from Malawi’s flanks.

The biggest question for Nigeria is not whether they create chances, but how quickly they can turn dominance into goals. Against lower-ranked opposition in the past, Nigeria have occasionally been guilty of patient, low-tempo build-up that invites a stubborn low block to survive for long spells.

Super Falcons. Photo by Tobi Adepoju Copyright: IMAGO

Malawi’s most sensible approach is exactly that: a deep, compact defensive shape designed to limit space between the lines, with Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga held higher up the pitch to counter on the rare occasions Malawi win the ball back.

The problem for Fazili is that his side’s warm-up form suggests that defensive discipline is still a work in progress rather than an established strength, and four goals conceded to Ghana in a friendly is a warning sign against a Nigeria attack of considerably higher quality.

If Malawi push their full backs forward to support the Chawinga sisters in transition, as they have shown a willingness to do in recent matches, they risk leaving exactly the kind of space in behind that Oshoala and Ajibade thrive in.

Kansas City Current forward Temwa Chawinga. Copyright: ImagoxDavidxSmithx