Super Falcons midfielder Esther Okoronkwo. Photo: Super Eagles

Super Falcons forward Esther Okoronkwo has promised that Nigeria will bounce back with a much-improved performance when they face Zambia in their second Group C match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Falcons will need a win on Saturday after a below-par display saw the defending champions suffer a shock 3-2 defeat to debutants Malawi on Tuesday.

Nigeria were expected to comfortably see off Malawi in Rabat, with head coach Justine Madugu naming his strongest available side, but the Scorchers produced a disciplined display before hitting the Super Falcons on the counter through sisters Tabitha and Temwa Chawinga, whose pace exploited long balls played in behind the Nigerian defence.

Okoronkwo and Rasheedat Ajibade scored late goals in reply, but they proved insufficient to salvage a result.

Reflecting on the defeat, Okoronkwo admitted the team had approached the game without enough intensity and vowed they would put things right in their next fixture.

“I think next game we’re going to come back; we have to come out better than we did,” she said.

“This game came out a little flat, but it is what it is. We learned, we’re going to go back and learn our lesson and fix where we need to, so we can come back better in the next game.”

She also touched on a contentious penalty appeal during the match, though she declined to dwell on the officiating.

“I don’t know what the referee saw, but I think it definitely should have been looked at. Still, it is what it is. I didn’t get it, so I’m not going to complain about it,” Okoronkwo added.

The result leaves the 10-time African champions with work to do heading into Saturday’s meeting with Zambia, who thrashed Egypt 6-0 in the other Group C fixture on Tuesday to sit top of the standings.

A defeat for Nigeria against the Copper Queens would leave their qualification hopes hanging by a thread ahead of the final group match against Egypt.