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Zambia Out: WAFCON heartbreak ends World Cup dream
6 Aug
Summary
- Zambia's Women's national team is out of WAFCON and will miss the 2027 World Cup.
- Malawi advanced to the knockout stage on goal difference tie-breaker.
- Nigeria secured second place in Group C, advancing to the quarterfinals.
The Zambia women's national team has been eliminated from the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, consequently missing out on qualification for the 2027 Women's World Cup. Their final group match saw them defeat Malawi 2-1 on Wednesday, August 6, 2026. However, this victory was insufficient as Nigeria's win against Egypt in another Group C match sealed Zambia's fate.
Malawi, participating in their debut WAFCON campaign, secured a place in the knockout stage. The final group standings were decided by a complex tie-breaker, with goal difference among the top three teams being the deciding factor after all were level on six points. Zambia's hopes were dashed despite early goals from Barbra Banda and Prisca Chilufya.
Nigeria finished second in Group C and is set to face Cameroon in the quarterfinals on August 9, 2026. Malawi will play the runners-up from Group D. Quarterfinal winners earn direct qualification for the 2027 World Cup, while losers enter a playoff.
