Super Falcons midfielder Christy Ucheibe has called on her teammates to put their disappointing start to the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations behind them, insisting Nigeria still have everything to play for despite suffering a shock opening defeat, Footynaija.com reports.
The ten-time African champions now face a must-win encounter against Zambia after Tuesday’s setback left their hopes of progressing from the group stage under early pressure. While the result came as a major surprise, Ucheibe believes the team has the experience and mentality to bounce back when it matters most.
Speaking after the game, the Benfica star described the defeat as one of those moments that are part and parcel of football, while urging the Super Falcons to shift their focus to the challenge ahead.
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“I’m going to say it’s football. Nothing went wrong; both teams played very well, and that’s just football for you,” Ucheibe told Victor Ademola.
“You lose, you win, or you draw. But either way, you bounce back. In the next game against Zambia, we will try our best to get through this phase so we can qualify for the World Cup and defend our title.”
Following the final whistle, the Nigerian players and coaching staff gathered in a huddle on the pitch, and Ucheibe revealed the message shared within the group was one of encouragement.
“The message was just to cheer up and keep our heads up. It’s not the end of the tournament; it’s just the beginning. Back in 2018, the exact same thing happened against South Africa—they lost the first game but came back to win the tournament,” she said.
“Every team on the continent is stepping up now. Malawi is a good team; they put up a strong fight, and so did we. Hopefully, in the next game, we will set the standard and make things right.”
Ucheibe and her teammates will now turn their full attention to Zambia, who head into the clash brimming with confidence after an emphatic victory in their opening fixture. With their title defence already facing an early test, the Super Falcons know that a positive response will be crucial to keeping their WAFCON ambitions firmly on track.
