We Were Ready To D!e On The Pitch” – Ajibade Opens Up On Super Falcons’ WAFCON Triumph

Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has revealed that Nigeria’s players were prepared to give everything on the field rather than suffer a second consecutive defeat at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

According to Ireporter Online, the defending champions revived their Group C campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia after opening the tournament with a disappointing defeat to tournament debutants Malawi.

Asisat Oshoala scored the decisive goal in the eighth minute, but the Super Falcons were forced to battle for most of the contest with 10 players after defender Oluwatosin Demehin was sent off shortly before halftime for a challenge on Zambia captain Barbra Banda.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Nigeria produced a resilient defensive display to contain Zambia’s dangerous attacking duo of Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji. Goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie also delivered an impressive performance as the Falcons secured their first victory and clean sheet of the competition.

Speaking after the match, Ajibade said the team understood the importance of the encounter and entered the game determined to avoid another setback that could have jeopardised their title defence.

The skipper stressed that the players approached the match with total commitment and fought with every ounce of energy to secure the crucial three points.

Ajibade also disclosed that she remained calm after Demehin’s red card, explaining that her faith gave her confidence the team would overcome the challenge despite facing one of Africa’s strongest attacking sides with a player fewer.

She added that the squad never lost belief throughout the encounter, maintaining confidence that they could protect their slender lead until the final whistle.

Nigeria will now face Egypt in their final Group C fixture on Wednesday, August 5, with the Super Falcons needing at least a draw to book a place in the knockout stage as they continue their quest for a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.