Super Falcons’ midfielder, Esther Okoronkwo has blamed Nigeria’s shock 3-2 defeat to Malawi on the team’s slow start and a controversial penalty decision against the defending champions.
The Super Falcons suffered a disappointing loss to WAFCON debutants Malawi in their Group C opener on Tuesday, despite being overwhelming favourites going into the encounter.
Nigeria failed to contain Malawi’s dangerous sisters, Temwa and Tabitha Chawinga who capitalised on the lapses in the Falcons’ defence.
Temwa scored twice and Tabitha scored the third goal for Malawi in their upset of the nine-time African champions.
Rasheedat Ajibade and substitute Uchenna Kanu scored for Nigeria but it was not enough to prevent the Falcons from suffering an early setback in their title defence.
“We came out a bit flat,” Okoronkwo said.
Okoronkwo admitted after the match that Nigeria did not start the game with the intensity needed against a resolute Malawi side.
The midfielder said the Falcons need to forget the loss quickly, find their mistakes and come back stronger in their next game.
“We’ve got to be better in the next game. “We came out a little flat in this one,” Okoronkwo said.
