Nigeria coach Madugu says Super Falcons ‘must learn quickly’ after shock WAFCON defeat to Malawi

Nigeria head coach Justine Madugu has warned his Super Falcons side they “must learn quickly” after a surprise 3-2 defeat by Malawi at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).

The result leaves the reigning African champions under immediate pressure in the group stage and needing a strong response in their next fixture to keep qualification on track and calm anxious supporters.

Madugu did not hide his frustration with both the performance and the attitude of his players, admitting they never matched Malawi’s drive or discipline.

“In many ways, this is a wake-up call for all of us,” he said in his post-match press conference. “We went onto the pitch without the necessary intensity against a very determined and disciplined Malawi side, who took full advantage of our slightest defensive mistakes.”

He added: “This defeat hurts, but it has to serve as a collective lesson. No nation should be underestimated in African football today.”

Madugu criticised his team’s defensive organisation, acknowledging that Malawi were able to punish Nigeria whenever their back line faltered.

He stressed that the Super Falcons would now carry out a detailed review of the match in an effort to address the problems exposed by the loss.

“We are going to analyse this match calmly, correct our lack of alignment and work tirelessly so we approach the next game with a completely different mindset,” he said.

Pressure on defending champions

The defeat has shifted the mood around Nigeria’s campaign, piling pressure on a squad accustomed to dominance on the continental stage.

As champions of Africa, the Super Falcons came into the WAFCON 2026 tournament among the leading favourites, but their slip against Malawi has tightened the margins for error in the remaining group matches.

Madugu’s call for a “collective lesson” is aimed at both experienced players and newer members of the squad, with the coach insisting that focus and respect for every opponent will be crucial if Nigeria are to reassert their status.

He reiterated that what happens next will define their tournament, underlining that work on intensity, concentration and defensive cohesion must begin immediately.

The Super Falcons now face the challenge of turning a damaging setback into a turning point, with their response in the next match likely to determine whether this defeat is remembered as a brief stumble or the start of a deeper crisis in their WAFCON 2026 campaign.