* The Black Queens and Mali share 3 points and meet tonight as leaders Cameroon date Cape Verde who are without a point
By Duncan Mlanjira
Malawi Scorchers, who qualified for the quarterfinals of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAfCON) Morocco 2026 based on head-to-head tie breaker, will meet runners-up in Group D — currently Ghana but could also be Mali.
Advertisement
The Black Queens and Mali share 3 points and meet tonight as leaders Cameroon with 6 points date Cape Verde who are without a point.
After beating Nigeria 3–2 and the Super Falcons triumphing 1-0 with the Copper Queens, the Scorchers four goals mattered in this head-to-head calculation — with the goals against Egypt not counting.
Malawi thus four goals scored and four conceded; Nigeria three scored and three conceded and Zambia two scored and two conceded — and while they were still tied, the next tiebreaker is head-to-head goals scored.
That ranking puts the Scorchers in front — four head-to-head goals; Nigeria (3) and Zambia (2).
Zambia made the perfect start, taking the lead inside the opening minute through Barbra Banda — the tournament’s leading scorer — who unleashed a powerful strike from distance to register her fifth goal of the competition.
Barbra Banda was a thorn in the Scorchers fresh throughout
The Copper Queens’ second goal arrived eight minutes before the break when Margaret Belemu cut the ball back from the byline for Prisca Chilufya, who fired home to hand Zambia a commanding 2-0 advantage.
Knowing a goal could prove decisive in the battle for qualification, Malawi emerged after the restart with greater urgency. Their persistence paid off in the 72nd minute when Tabitha Chawinga skipped past two defenders before drilling a low finish beyond the goalkeeper to reduce the deficit.
The closing stages were evenly contested as both sides created chances, with Zambia continuing to push forward despite holding the lead as goal difference became a crucial factor.
Kabange Mupopo came within inches of adding a third for Zambia late on, only to see her close-range effort come off the woodwork with the goalkeeper beaten.
The final whistle confirmed the Scorchers progression despite the loss, while the Copper Queens see their WAfCON Morocco 2026 campaign come to an unfortunate end.
In the other game, the Super Falcons went into the match knowing they could not afford another slip after their shock opening defeat by Malawi and narrow win over Zambia.
They responded with their most ruthless attacking performance of the tournament, scoring three times in each half to secure qualification.
Asisat Oshoala opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 21st minute before Gift Monday doubled Nigeria’s lead in first-half stoppage time after being set up by Rinsola Babajide.
Nadine Ghazi pulled one back for Egypt with a penalty deep into first-half added time, but Nigeria took control after the break through Uchenna Kanu, Christy Ucheibe, Rasheedat Ajibade and Joy Omewa.
Ghazi scored Egypt’s second in the 84th minute, but it was not enough to stop the Cleopatras from ending the group stage without a point.
The Super Falcons are not yet at their smoothest, but they have survived a difficult group, rediscovered their scoring touch and kept their title defence alive.
The real test now begins.—Match report by CAFonline
Results and fixtures (kick-off times CAT beamed live on SuperSport live on DStv Channel 225 (https://dstv.stream) and on GOtv Channel 61 (https://gotv.stream):
Group stages
Group A
Algeria 2-0 Senegal
Morocco 4-0 Kenya
Senegal 1-0 Kenya
Morocco 1-0 Algeria
Senegal 0-0 Morocco
Kenya 0-2 Algeria
Group B
South Africa 1-2 Tanzania
Côte d’Ivoire 4-1 Burkina Faso
South Africa 2-2 Côte d’Ivoire
Burkina Faso 2-1 Tanzania
Burkina Faso 0-1 South Africa
Tanzania 1-2 Côte d’Ivoire
Group C
Zambia 6-0 Egypt
Nigeria 3-2 Malawi
Egypt 1-3 Malawi
Nigeria 1-9 Zambia
Egypt 2-6 Nigeria
Malawi 1-2 Zambia
Group D
Ghana 2-0 Cape Verde
Cameroon 2-1 Mali
Ghana 0-1 Cameroon
Mali 3-2 Cape Verde
Tonight, August 6
Mali v Ghana (22h00)
Cape Verde v Cameroon (22h00)
Quarterfinals
Saturday, August 8
Côte d’Ivoire v Algeria (19h00)
Morocco v South Africa (22h00)
Sunday, August 9
Cameroon v Nigeria (19h00)
Malawi v Ghana/Mali (22h00)
Semifinals
Wednesday, August 12
SF2: Winner QF2 v Winner QF3 (19h00)
SF1: Winner QF1 v Winner QF4 (22h00)
World Cup 2027 play-off matches
Thursday, August 13
Loser QF2 v Loser QF3 (19h00)
Loser QF1 v Loser QF4 (22h00)
Third place play-off
Saturday, August 15
Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 (19h00)
WAfCON 2026 final
Sunday, August 16
Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (Moulay Hassan Stadium or Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Rabat, (21h00)
Advertisement