Malawi arrived at their first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and did what no debutant had managed before: beat Nigeria.
The Scorchers won 2-3 against the champions in a match that stayed goalless for 72 minutes and then ran out of control, with three goals in stoppage time.
Nigeria had more of the ball and spent much of the first half camped near the Malawian box, but found no way of turning that territorial control into clear chances.
The Super Falcons reached the interval with 58% possession, six shots and 0.46 expected goals. Every one of their efforts came from inside the area and three were on target, but none counted as a big chance.
Malawi held firm and looked for other routes.
They also had six attempts in the first period, though five of them came from outside the box. Their five corners and the three shots that forced Chiamaka Nnadozie into action kept the threat alive, even if the side managed only 0.18 xG.
The match changed after the break.
Sabina Thom came on in the 50th minute and Malawi began to find the spaces that had not appeared in the first half. The debutants created four big chances and roughly 1.65 xG in the second period.
The first goal arrived in the 73rd minute. Temwa Chawinga finished a move set up by Ireen Khumalo to put Malawi ahead.
Nigeria had still found no answer when they conceded a second six minutes later. This time it was Tabitha Chawinga, from a Thom pass, who widened the lead and left the champions facing a defeat that had seemed unthinkable at the start of the evening.
Justine Madugu looked to the bench for a response. Uchenna Kanu had replaced Chinwendu Ihezuo in the 56th minute and Asisat Oshoala came on for Esther Okoronkwo in the 83rd.
Nigeria’s pressure finally told once the match had already moved into stoppage time.
Rasheedat Ajibade converted a penalty on 90+2 to bring the Super Falcons back to within a goal. Malawi, though, responded immediately.
On 90+5, Temwa Chawinga made it 1-3 after an assist from Benadetta Mkandawire.
Not even then was the match over.
Kanu scored the 2-3 in the 99th minute to give Nigeria one last hope, but Malawi managed to protect their lead until the final whistle.
The numbers describe a more even contest than the run of play might suggest. Nigeria finished with 55% possession, 26 touches in the opposition box, thirteen shots and 1.96 xG. Malawi also had thirteen attempts and reached 1.83 xG.
The difference lay in the quality of the chances. The debutants produced four big opportunities to two, and their shots on target amounted to 3.27 xGOT, more than double Nigeria’s.
Malawi did not simply hold on. They waited through a first half dominated by the champions and attacked the spaces once the game opened up.
Their reward is the first victory by a debutant nation against Nigeria in the history of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations. For the Super Falcons, the title defence begins with a defeat and with the need to react against Zambia.
For Malawi, the history is already written.