If WAFCON opening games were a movie, Nigeria would probably skip the trailer and go straight to the action.
The Super Falcons’ opening match against Malawi is more than just the first fixture of the tournament. It marks the beginning of Nigeria’s quest for a record-extending 11th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title.
History suggests the Super Falcons know how to make a statement from the very start. Nigeria have scored four or more goals in six of their 12 WAFCON opening matches, with their biggest opening victories coming in back-to-back 8-0 wins over Morocco in 1998 and 2000.
The Super Falcons have only lost two opening matches in the competition’s history, both against South Africa. In 2008, they suffered a 1-0 defeat and failed to win the title. A decade later, they lost by the same scoreline in 2018 but bounced back to lift the trophy, defeating South Africa in the final.
Overall WAFCON opening match record
- Played: 12
- Won: 10
- Drawn: 0
- Lost: 2
- Goals scored: 46
- Goals conceded: 5
- Clean sheets: 7
Nigeria begin their campaign against tournament debutants Malawi with history firmly on their side. The Super Falcons have won 10 of their 12 opening matches, scoring 46 goals while conceding just five. Although they have shown they can recover from an opening setback, history suggests that a fast start has often been the foundation for another successful title-winning campaign.
