Nigeria reignited their hopes of reaching the 2027 Women's World Cup with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, overcoming a second-half siege after being reduced to 10 players before half-time.
This year's tournament in Morocco also serves as Africa's qualifying competition for next year's World Cup in Brazil. All four Wafcon semi-finalists will secure automatic qualification, while the losing quarter-finalists will have another chance through the inter-confederation play-offs.
The Super Falcons entered Saturday's Group C clash under intense pressure after a shock 3-2 defeat by tournament debutants Malawi in their opening game left the defending champions facing the prospect of an early exit.
They responded in ideal fashion.
Six-time African Women's Player of the Year Asisat Oshoala gave Nigeria the perfect start, bundling home in the eighth minute after Zambia goalkeeper Hazel Nali could only parry her initial effort.
The goal proved decisive, but only after Nigeria survived a major setback.
Five minutes before half-time, centre-back Oluwatosin Demehin was sent off following a video assistant referee review. Referee Josphine Wanjiku upgraded an initial yellow card to a red after ruling Demehin had denied Barbra Banda a clear goalscoring opportunity by hauling down the Zambia captain.
The decision was contentious, with replays appearing to show Nigeria full-back Rofiat Imuran in a covering position.
Despite enjoying a numerical advantage for the entire second half, Zambia could not find a way through.
Racheal Kundananji came closest when her powerful long-range free-kick was tipped behind by goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, while Banda — once Africa's most expensive female footballer — was largely kept quiet by Nigeria's resolute defence.
The Copper Queens squandered one final opportunity deep into stoppage time when Grace Chanda volleyed over the crossbar, allowing the Super Falcons to cling on for a priceless victory.
Nigeria, ever-present at every Women's World Cup and quarter-finalists in 1999, once again owed much to Oshoala, whose early strike kept alive their hopes of extending that remarkable record.
The result moves the 10-time African champions level with Zambia on three points in Group C, although both trail surprise leaders Malawi, who earlier beat Egypt 3-1 to maintain their perfect start.
Nigeria face Egypt in their final group match on Wednesday, while Zambia take on Malawi with qualification still hanging in the balance.
Elsewhere, hosts Morocco have already sealed a place in the Wafcon quarter-finals with a game to spare. South Africa, however, are on the brink of an early exit and risk missing the 2027 Women's World Cup after taking just one point from their opening two Group B matches.
The reigning African champions must beat Burkina Faso on Tuesday and hope Ivory Coast overcome Tanzania to keep both their Wafcon title defence and World Cup qualification hopes alive.
