Nigeria claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia on Saturday in Rabat despite playing much of the game with 10 players, a result that has left Group C of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations wide open.
The Super Falcons were reduced to 10 women in the 40th minute after Blessing Demehin received a red card for bringing down Zambia’s star striker, Barbra Banda, at the Al Medina Stadium.
Following two rounds of matches, Malawi sit top of the group with six points, while Nigeria and Zambia have three points apiece. Egypt remain without a point ahead of the final group fixtures scheduled for Wednesday in the Moroccan capital.
The reigning champions, Nigeria, who are pursuing a record-extending 11th WAFCON crown, will take on Egypt, while Malawi face Zambia in an all-southern African clash.
Record six-time African Footballer of the Year Asisat Oshoala netted the decisive goal just eight minutes into the contest.
She raced past two defenders before goalkeeper Hazel Nali stopped her initial effort. However, the rebound ricocheted off Oshoala’s right leg and found the back of the net.
In the earlier fixture, star forward Temwa Chawinga both set up a goal and found the scoresheet as Malawi defeated Egypt 3-1.
Malawi followed up their surprise win over Nigeria with another impressive performance, even after being reduced to 10 players early in the second half.
Rose Alufandika was sent off in the 52nd minute after committing a last-defender foul on Habiba Essam at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
The Malawians established a 2-0 advantage before the break through maiden tournament goals from Rose Kadzere and Faith Chinzimu.
Kadzere opened the scoring in the 35th minute after finishing a pass from Chawinga with a strike beyond goalkeeper Maha Shehata. Chinzimu then doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time with a close-range finish.
Malawi made it 3-0 in the 69th minute when Kansas City-based Chawinga beat Shehata to the ball and headed home.
Egypt pulled one back two minutes later, registering their first goal of the tournament after suffering a 6-0 defeat to Zambia in their opening match. Eman Kassem nodded in a free-kick beyond goalkeeper Mercy Sikelo in the 71st minute.
The second round of Group D fixtures concludes on Sunday in Casablanca, with leaders Ghana facing second-placed Cameroon, while Mali meet Cape Verde.
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