Super Falcons defender Michelle Alozie was selected for a mandatory anti-doping test following Nigeria’s hard-fought 1-0 victory over Zambia at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Rabat on Saturday.
The 29-year-old was among the last players to leave the Al Madina Stadium after completing the post-match procedure, a routine random test that followed her Woman of the Match performance.
Alozie produced one of her finest displays in national colours, playing the full 90 minutes and helping Nigeria preserve a clean sheet despite being reduced to 10 players for more than 50 minutes. Initially deployed at right-back, she switched to the left side of defence following the first-half dismissal of central defender Blessing Demehin.
The defensive reshuffle did little to unsettle the Super Falcons, with Alozie making a series of crucial interceptions, clearances and recoveries that restricted Zambia to only two shots on target despite sustained pressure.
Fans react: ‘Dem dey craze’
News of the doping test sparked a fierce reaction on social media, with many fans questioning the timing and necessity of the procedure.
One user wrote: “If it’s like that, they should dope test the whole squad, because they gave their all. What nonsense! All these enemies of progress have started again.”
Another commented: “Small winning and all they could think of is to run a doping test on the woman of the match. Una wan start una ojoro abii.”
Others highlighted the absurdity of targeting a player whose off-pitch profession is in healthcare. “They forgot her profession off pitch,” one fan noted, while another added: “This girl is a workhorse. She hardly sleeps. She gives her all premium life of hers on Snap. She’s always doing one or two activities every day. Dem dey craze.”
One fan compared the situation to a previous loss: “The day we lost to some Malawi women wey their muscle be like Nigeria’s strongest man, dem no do doping test for her oh. As we manage succeed against all odds now dem go dey stress my beau.”
Despite widespread praise for her display, Alozie deflected attention away from her individual recognition. “Yes, that [the drug testing] is true,” Alozie confirmed to journalists. “But I don’t really know if I really deserve the Woman of the Match award. I think it was really a team effort, and we really came out on top today.”
The victory gives response from the Nigerian side after their disappointing 3-2 defeat to Malawi in the opening group game. Veteran striker Asisat Oshoala scored the decisive goal in the eighth minute, giving Nigeria an early lead that they defended.
The result keeps Nigeria’s quarter-final hopes alive, with the Super Falcons now turning their attention to a decisive Group C encounter against Egypt on August 5.
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A victory would secure qualification for the knockout stages as the defending champions continue their quest for another continental title.
For Alozie, the doping test may have delayed her departure from the stadium, but her performance on the pitch ensured that Nigeria’s WAFCON competition remains very much alive.
