COPPER QUEENS EXIT WAFCON DESPITE VICTORY OVER MALAWI

COPPER QUEENS EXIT WAFCON DESPITE VICTORY OVER MALAWI

The Copper Queens have been eliminated from the group stage of the 2026 TotalEnergies Women's Africa Cup of Nations despite defeating Malawi two-one. Zambia finished the group with six points but failed to progress after Malawi and Nigeria advanced on the tournament's tie-breaker rules.

Captain Barbra Banda gave Zambia the perfect start by scoring inside the opening minute before Prisca Chilufya doubled the lead just before halftime. Malawi pulled one goal back in the second half, but Zambia held on to secure all three points.

Despite the victory, the result was not enough to keep Zambia's WAFCON campaign alive, as goal difference proved decisive in determining the teams that advanced to the quarter-finals.