Former Rivers Angels head coach Tosan Blankson has reacted to Nigeria’s surprise 3-2 loss to Malawi in their opening match at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, insisting the Super Falcons can still go on to win the tournament.
Blankson blamed the defeat on complacency, arguing that the players underrated their opponents and allowed social media chatter to break their concentration before kickoff.
“This is the kind of result you get when you underestimate your opponent and choose to play on social media rather than focus and concentrate on the game at hand,” he said, adding that the standard across African women’s football has risen sharply.
Despite the setback, he struck an optimistic note, comparing the campaign to a journey where early obstacles do not decide the destination. “The Super Falcons’ eyes have now been opened. They must adjust their focus and concentration in the remaining games,” he said, stressing that the squad still has the talent and quality to succeed.
Nigeria continue their Group C campaign against Zambia on August 1 before facing Egypt on August 5, with both fixtures set for Rabat.
Source: Complete Sports.
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