Nigeria Vs Malawi: Falcons Eye Record 69th WAFCON Game, 70-Goal Milestone Against Debutants

Nigeria’s Super Falcons will make a record-extending 69th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations appearance when they face tournament debutants Malawi in their Group C opener on Tuesday, as the defending champions begin their quest for an unprecedented 11th continental title.

Already the nation’s most experienced side in WAFCON history, the Super Falcons will add another chapter to their remarkable legacy while also chasing another milestone.

Nigeria have scored 67 goals against tournament debutants and need three more to become the first team to reach the 70-goal mark against first-time participants in the competition.

They have never lost to a debutant, winning 16 of their previous 17 such matches and conceding only four goals.

The Super Falcons will also be eager to erase memories of recent slow starts after opening the last two editions as defending champions with defeats to South Africa.

Overall, however, Nigeria have won nine of their 13 tournament openers, scoring in 12 of them and keeping seven clean sheets.

Head coach Justine Madugu, who guided Nigeria to their record-extending 10th WAFCON title at the last edition and was named Coach of the Tournament, returns for his sixth appearance at the finals as part of the Super Falcons’ technical team.

He will lead an experienced squad determined to reinforce Nigeria’s status as Africa’s dominant force in women’s football.

Standing in Nigeria’s way are WAFCON newcomers Malawi, who qualified for their first-ever finals after eliminating Angola in the playoffs.

The Scorchers arrive full of confidence following their 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship triumph and will rely on the dangerous Chawinga sisters, Temwa and captain Tabitha, as they seek to produce one of the biggest upsets of the tournament.