Mbachu tells Super Falcons to unite and target 11th WAFCON title

Former Nigeria winger Stella Mbachu has urged the Super Falcons to stop dwelling on their troubled preparation and focus on winning the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, after the defending champions revived their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Zambia.

Nigeria began their title defence in Morocco with a shock defeat by tournament debutants Malawi, raising questions about the team’s readiness and the circumstances surrounding their build-up. They responded against Zambia with a courageous performance, securing three points despite playing most of the match with 10 players.

Mbachu accepts that Nigeria’s preparations did not meet the standards expected of the reigning African champions. However, she believes the setbacks must become a lesson rather than a reason for continued criticism, with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), the players and supporters all sharing responsibility for what happens next.

The former Super Falcons star said the absence of high-quality international friendly matches had denied the squad an important opportunity to develop understanding and refine their tactics before travelling to Morocco.

At the same time, she pointed out that the players had remained active during the season with their respective clubs. In her view, a lack of preparation contributed to the team’s slow start, but it could not fully explain the defeat by Malawi or be used as a lasting excuse.

Mbachu’s assessment was therefore both critical and measured. She recognised the shortcomings in the team’s build-up while making it clear that accountability should not rest with one group alone.

She called on the NFF and the players to examine the decisions and events that preceded the tournament, with the aim of avoiding similar problems in future competitions. For Nigeria to remain Africa’s dominant force, Mbachu believes every part of the women’s football structure must learn from what happened.

The immediate priority, however, is the tournament itself. After the victory over Zambia brought Nigeria’s campaign back to life, Mbachu said attention should now turn away from the preparation debate and towards supporting the squad.

She warned that repeatedly discussing the team’s difficulties before the competition would offer little benefit as the Super Falcons attempt to progress through the tournament. Instead, she wants Nigerians to rally behind the players as they pursue an 11th continental crown.

Despite the opening defeat by Malawi, Nigeria remain in contention for qualification to the knockout stages. The hard-fought win against Zambia has provided renewed momentum and kept alive their hopes of defending the title they won last year.

Mbachu also expressed hope that the NFF had recognised the need to provide the women’s national team with a stronger build-up before future major competitions. She believes the experience in Morocco should help improve the planning and preparation of subsequent campaigns.

Her message to the Super Falcons is direct: forget the difficult preparations, put the disappointment against Malawi behind them and do not rely on excuses. The target, she says, must be clear win the trophy.

History, in Mbachu’s view, will remember the champions rather than the problems they encountered before lifting the cup.