Super Falcons goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie has warned that Nigeria must find the back of the net when they face Egypt in their decisive final Group C match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
The Super Falcons revived their campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia after suffering a shock 3-2 defeat to Malawi in their opening match.
However, Nigeria’s work is far from finished, With the group still wide open, Nnadozie knows the defending champions cannot afford to leave anything to chance when they meet the Egyptian national team.
“We have to score goals against Egypt. It won’t be easy as the group is still very wide open, and we don’t know what Zambia and Malawi will play,” Nnadozie said.
Her warning comes at a crucial point in Nigeria’s WAFCON 2026 campaign.
The Super Falcons entered the tournament as defending champions and are chasing a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title. But their unexpected defeat to Malawi immediately put pressure on Justine Madugu’s side.
The response against Zambia was exactly what Nigeria needed, Asisat Oshoala gave the Super Falcons an early lead, scoring in the eighth minute after following up on her initial effort. Nigeria were then forced to play with 10 players after Tosin Demehin was sent off, but the team showed remarkable discipline to protect their advantage.
Nnadozie was central to that defensive effort, the goalkeeper produced a composed performance to keep Zambia at bay and help Nigeria secure three vital points. The victory not only lifted the mood around the squad but also kept the Super Falcons’ hopes of reaching the WAFCON 2026 quarter-finals firmly alive.
Now, however, the focus has shifted to Egypt, Nnadozie believes the Super Falcons must approach the match with the same determination while improving their attacking output.
For Nigeria, goals could make the difference between progressing to the knockout stage and suffering an early exit from a tournament they were expected to dominate.
The Super Falcons have already experienced how quickly the situation can change in Group C. After the shock loss to Malawi, Nigeria were under enormous pressure against Zambia. Another difficult result against Egypt could make the final group standings extremely complicated.
The goalkeeper is therefore calling on her teammates to take their chances when they arrive, the equation is simple in principle: Nigeria need to produce a positive result and avoid giving their opponents the opportunity to dictate the game.
“We don’t know what Zambia and Malawi will play,” Nnadozie said, highlighting the importance of the other Group C fixture.
That uncertainty means Nigeria must focus on controlling what they can, the Super Falcons cannot afford to rely entirely on results elsewhere. They have to perform against Egypt and give themselves the best possible chance of securing qualification.
For Nnadozie, this is also about restoring the confidence of Nigerian fans, the goalkeeper has been one of the team’s most important players throughout their recent campaigns, and her message reflects the mentality required from a side chasing another continental crown.
Nigeria’s WAFCON 2026 campaign has already delivered drama, disappointment and a strong response, the defeat to Malawi exposed weaknesses, the victory over Zambia showed character.
Now comes the biggest test of their group-stage campaign, Egypt will be determined to cause another upset, while the Super Falcons know that nothing can be taken for granted in this tournament.
With a place in the quarter-finals at stake and an 11th WAFCON title still the ultimate objective, Nigeria must deliver when it matters most.
Nnadozie has made the message clear: the Super Falcons have to score, and when Nigeria walk onto the pitch against Egypt, the defending champions will know that their response could define their entire WAFCON 2026 journey.
