We Were Ready to Die on the Pitch – Super Falcons Captain
Super Falcons captain Rasheedat Ajibade has revealed that Nigeria’s players were determined to give everything on the pitch to avoid a second consecutive defeat at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
According to a report by The Punch, the 10-time African champions bounced back from their disappointing 3-2 loss to tournament debutants Malawi with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia in their second Group B match in Morocco.
Nigeria’s hopes of defending their continental crown had come under serious threat after the opening defeat, making the clash against Zambia a must-win encounter.
The Super Falcons faced an even greater challenge before half-time when defender Oluwatosin Demehin was shown a straight red card for fouling Zambia captain Barbra Banda, forcing Justine Madugu’s side to play the remainder of the game with 10 players.
Despite being a player down, Nigeria held firm after Asisat Oshoala’s early eighth-minute goal proved decisive, while the defence successfully kept Zambia’s dangerous attacking pair of Barbra Banda and Rachael Kundananji at bay to secure the team’s first win and first clean sheet of the tournament.
Reflecting on the performance, Ajibade said the players approached the game knowing they had no choice but to fight for victory.
“We knew that we just had to win. It’s either we die on that pitch, you know. So we’re playing with every energy, the strength, the spirit within us to win this game. So there’s no time to relax,” the skipper said.
Ajibade also credited her faith for helping her remain composed throughout the tense encounter.
“I wasn’t worried. I was going onto the pitch with the word of God because I knew when God said He’s going to help us, so I held on to God’s word,” she said.
Speaking on Demehin’s dismissal, the captain added that the setback strengthened the team’s resolve.
“When that red card came in, you know sometimes God does not do things in a very easy way. He does it in a way that everyone would know that He’s the one in charge, and He takes all the glory in His hand” Ajibade stated.
The victory has revived Nigeria’s chances of reaching the knockout stage.
The Super Falcons now need at least a win against Egypt in their final group match on Wednesday to secure qualification as they continue their pursuit of a record-extending 11th WAFCON title.