By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…American Based Malawian Held Down Falcons with Hattrick
WAFCON DEFENDING champions and ten times title holders, Super Falcons of Nigeria slumped badly in their race for the 11th title as Debutante Scorchers of Malawi held them down by a shocking 3-2 win in Rabat Morocco on Tuesday night.
27-year-old Temwa Chawinger who plays professional with the Kansas City FC of USA singularly wrecked the former champions with a dazzling hattrick (3 goals in a match) scoring in the 73rd minute from Khumalo support; got a pass from Thom to beat Nigeria in the 79th minute and finally nailed the Falcons in the 90+5 minute.
Coach Madugu had kept his good legs on the bench and when he brought in Aseezat Oshoala and Deborah Abuodun pulling out Esthet Okonkwo who must still be feeling bad under the racist attack from Moroccans, things changed as Captain Rasheedat Ajibade scored a penalty in the late moments of 90+2 minutes to make it 2-1 and Uchenna Kanu scored at the last move of 90+9 minute.
Although fans were shocked, but football is not played by emotions and fanfare for the Falcons were busy distracting themselves brandishing their fanciful Aso Ebi Ankara tying Alatika gele head gear with much twerks on social media.
The Malawians had dreaded the superiority of the Falcons and had begged through their Captain that Nigeria should not disgrace them with avalanche of goals like 5-0 or 6-0 but beat just a goal so they played with much determination.
Malawi contested every move keenly in 13-13 shots at goal; 7-8 on target; their goalkeeper had 6-4 close saves; their defence was better though they conceded 4-5 corner kicks; bagged 2-2 yellow cards in 12-10 fouls.
The Falcons who stringed 70-53 passes wasted chances trying to score from the six yard box actually having 12 -6 shots within the box.
If the Falcons who were given keys to their promised houses and $100k each for winning their 10th title play like this against Egypt on 1st August they may need to pack their baggages and come back to Abuja with their heads bowed.
Nigeria is 3rd on group C table with no point conceding 3 goals and scoring 2; Zambia tops the group with 3 points scoring 6 goals with a clean slate; lowly rated Malawi is 2nd with 3 points scoring 3 goals and conceding 2 while Egypt is 4th with no point no goal but conceded 6 goals the highest scored against a team so far in this tournament.
Nigeria got a relief as money stolen by a hotel staff in Casablanca from them was returned before the match.
The staff confessed on interrogation by the Moroccan Police to have stolen $700 from Esther Okoronkwo; $200 from Rasheedat Ajibade; £120 pounds from Joy Emewa and $100 from Oshoala.
He had changed the money into local Moroccan currency, but the court sentenced him to six months imprisonment after he returned the money.
Tomorrow Wednesday Ghana meets Cape Verde at 6.00pm and Cameroon plays Mali at 9.00pm all in group D.
#CAF #WAFCON2026 #WAFU
#COSAFA #NFF #FAM.
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