By Dorcas Francis Koji
Malawi and Zambia will square off in a decisive Group C clash at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations on Wednesday, with both southern African sides chasing a place in the tournament’s quarter-finals.
Tournament debutants Malawi have emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the competition after winning their opening two matches. The Scorchers followed their stunning 3-2 victory over 10-time champions Nigeria with an impressive 3-1 win over Egypt, despite playing much of the contest with 10 players following the dismissal of Rose Alufandika.
Goals from Rose Kadzere, Faith Chinzimu and star forward Temwa Chawinga secured maximum points and moved Malawi to the top of Group C with six points, leaving them needing only a draw against Zambia to qualify for the knockout stage.
A place in the quarter-finals would also move Malawi one step closer to qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil, adding even greater significance to Wednesday’s encounter.
Speaking ahead of the match, Chawinga insisted her side is determined to keep making history despite entering the competition as underdogs.
“We may be underdogs, but we know we have to keep working hard to achieve our dreams,” Chawinga said.
“If we could qualify for this tournament, then we can also qualify for the World Cup. We are not here just to participate—we are here to compete.”
Zambia, meanwhile, head into the contest under pressure after suffering a narrow 1-0 defeat to Nigeria in their second group game.
The Copper Queens failed to take advantage after the Super Falcons were reduced to 10 players in the first half following Tosin Demehin’s dismissal, managing only two shots on target throughout the encounter.
Head coach Nora Häuptle will be hoping her side can rediscover the attacking brilliance that saw them thrash Egypt 6-0 in their opening match, with Barbra Banda producing one of the tournament’s standout performances.
While Zambia have shown they possess one of the most dangerous attacks in the competition, defensive lapses remain a concern after conceding in eight of their last 10 matches across all competitions.
The fixture is expected to be fiercely contested, with recent meetings between both countries offering little to separate them. Malawi and Zambia have each recorded four victories in their last 10 encounters, alongside two draws, while their most recent meeting ended in a 1-1 draw during an international friendly in 2025.
With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, Wednesday’s encounter promises to be one of the most significant matches in both nations’ recent football history.
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