Super Falcons head coach Justine Madugu has accepted responsibility for Nigeria's shock defeat to Malawi and promised improvements ahead of the team's crucial second Group C fixture at the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The defending champions suffered a disappointing 3-2 loss to tournament debutants Malawi in their opening match, leaving their hopes of reaching the knockout stage hanging in the balance.
Speaking after the game, Madugu acknowledged the disappointment of the result, accepted the criticism that followed, and assured Nigerians that the team would work hard to correct the mistakes that led to the defeat.
"There will always be criticism and comments when things go wrong. We accept those things, we accept responsibility for whatever happened, and we'll try to work on it," Madugu said.
"Whatever mistakes were made, the players are very flexible, and we'll correct them next time.
"It's a wake-up call for all of us, and we know how important this edition is. We're not taking anything for granted."
The Super Falcons must now defeat Zambia's Copper Queens in their next outing to keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage of the competition.
The decisive Group C encounter is scheduled to take place on Saturday at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, with Nigeria seeking an immediate response after the disappointing opening-day setback.