Michelle Alozie Falcons Lessons emerge after Nigeria’s defender explains how the team bounced back from Malawi defeat to beat Zambia

Michelle Alozie, Super Falcons defender, has revealed that Nigeria’s painful 3-2 defeat to Malawi helped the team correct mistakes and secure a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia in their continental title defence campaign.

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Alozie, who was named Player of the Match after delivering an outstanding performance, said the Falcons approached the Zambia encounter with greater tactical awareness after analysing lessons from their opening setback.

The lessons came after Nigeria battled through most of the match with 10 players following Tosin Demehin’s 40th-minute red card, with Asisat Oshoala’s early strike proving enough to seal the important win.

“We learned the lesson after playing against Malawi, so we knew we needed to drop the line,” Alozie said while receiving her Player of the Match award.

The defender praised her teammates for their determination after going a player down, describing the match against Zambia as a demanding contest against a strong opponent.

“We knew Zambia is a really tough team. They are super fast, physical and very technical,” Alozie said.

She also acknowledged Demehin’s effort despite the sending-off, adding that the team showed unity and resilience to protect their narrow advantage.

“It was a hell of a game. Tosin played her heart out. It was unfortunate that she was shown a red card, but I’m glad we were able to come together with a player down and get the win,” she added.

The victory moved Nigeria to three points from two matches and kept the defending champions’ hopes alive in the competition.

Malawi currently lead Group C with six points after defeating Egypt 3-1, while Zambia and Nigeria sit on three points each. Egypt remain bottom of the group without a point.

Despite the important win, the Super Falcons still face a decisive final group fixture against Egypt, where they need a strong result to strengthen their chances of reaching the quarter-finals.

Nigeria are also pursuing a record-extending 11th continental title and a place at the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.

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The response against Zambia has provided renewed confidence for the Falcons, who will now look to build on their fighting performance as the tournament enters a crucial stage.