Zambia Face Malawi In Crucial WAFCON Group C Finale

Zambia will face Southern African neighbours Malawi in their final TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 Group C match at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday, 5 August, with kick-off at 21h00 local time.

The Copper Queens head into the decisive encounter looking to secure their place in the quarter-finals after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in their second group match.

Zambia opened their campaign in emphatic fashion, thrashing Egypt 6-0, with Barbra Banda scoring four goals, but they were unable to maintain their winning start against Nigeria.

Despite the setback, Zambia have a strong record in their final WAFCON group matches. They have never lost their final group game, recording two wins and two draws, while they have won their last two against Togo in 2022 and DR Congo at the previous edition.

However, the Copper Queens face a Malawi side enjoying an outstanding debut tournament. The Scorchers have won both of their opening matches, beating Nigeria 3-2 before defeating Egypt 3-1 to sit on six points.

Malawi will qualify for the quarter-finals and finish top of Group C with a win or draw. Zambia, meanwhile, must avoid defeat to strengthen their chances of progressing, with the final qualification picture also depending on the result between Nigeria and Egypt.

The match will be the first-ever meeting between Zambia and Malawi at the WAFCON, although the two nations have a long history in the COSAFA Women’s Championship.

Zambia have won three of their five previous COSAFA meetings with Malawi, including an 8-0 victory in 2002, a 6-3 win in 2017 and a 2-0 semi-final victory in 2024. Malawi, however, defeated Zambia in the 2020 COSAFA tournament and famously won the 2023 final 2-1 to claim their first regional title.

For Zambia, the match represents another opportunity to reach the WAFCON knockout stage for a third consecutive tournament. The Copper Queens finished third in 2022 and reached the quarter-finals at the last edition.

Barbra Banda will again be one of Zambia’s biggest attacking threats. Although she was kept scoreless against Nigeria, the captain won nine duels and recorded 10 touches inside the opposition penalty area.

With Malawi unbeaten and Zambia desperate for progression, the final Group C clash promises to be a high-stakes Southern African battle with a place in the quarter-finals on the line.