Nigeria captain Rasheedat Ajibade says the Super Falcons were determined to produce everything they had on the pitch after a difficult start to their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign.
The nine-time African champions revived their hopes of reaching the knockout stages with a 1-0 victory over Zambia in their second Group B match in Morocco, despite playing more than half the game with 10 players.
Nigeria went into the match under significant pressure after suffering a surprise 3-2 defeat by tournament debutants Malawi in their opening fixture.
Their task against Zambia became even more difficult shortly before half-time when defender Oluwatosin Demehin was shown a red card for bringing down Zambia captain Barbra Banda.
However, Nigeria held firm after going down to 10 players and protected an early goal from Asisat Oshoala to claim a crucial three points.
Ajibade said the players understood before kick-off that they could not afford another defeat after the setback against Malawi.
“Well, not from the anger of the Malawi game. We knew that we just had to win. It’s either we die on that pitch, you know. So we’re playing with every energy, the strength, the spirit within us to win this game. So there’s no time to relax,” she said.
The captain also said her faith helped her remain confident when Nigeria were reduced to 10 players against a Zambia side containing two of Africa’s most dangerous attackers in Banda and Rachael Kundananji.
“Honestly, I wasn’t worried. I was going onto the pitch with the word of God because I knew when God said He’s going to help us, so I held on to God’s word,” she said.
Ajibade said the circumstances surrounding the red card were another example of how she believed events could unfold in difficult circumstances.
“When that red card came in, you know sometimes God does not do things in a very easy way. He does it in a way that everyone would know that He’s the one in charge and He takes all the glory in His hand.”
Nigeria’s defensive resilience was crucial to the result, with goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie producing another commanding performance as the Super Falcons faced sustained pressure.
The Nigerian defence had to deal with the threat posed by Zambia’s attacking pair of Banda and Kundananji, but managed to prevent the Copper Queens from finding an equaliser.
For Ajibade, there was no reason for the players to panic despite the numerical disadvantage.
The captain insisted the squad remained confident that they could hold on for victory, even after Demehin’s dismissal left them with 10 players for the remainder of the contest.
The result has significantly improved Nigeria’s position in Group B after their disappointing opening match.
The Super Falcons now know what they need from their final group fixture against Egypt.
A draw will be enough for Nigeria to secure qualification for the knockout stage and keep alive their attempt to win a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.
The victory over Zambia therefore gives Nigeria an opportunity to recover from their unexpected defeat by Malawi and move closer to the latter stages of the tournament.
However, the Super Falcons must still negotiate their final group match against Egypt before their quarter-final place can be confirmed.
After being pushed to the limit against Zambia, Nigeria will take confidence from their ability to protect a narrow advantage while playing with 10 players.
Ajibade’s comments underline the determination within the squad to respond to their poor opening result and remain in contention for the title.
Nigeria’s campaign had appeared to be in serious danger after the defeat by Malawi, but the hard-fought win over Zambia has put the nine-time champions back on course.
With one group match remaining, the Super Falcons need at least a draw against Egypt to progress and continue their pursuit of another continental title.
