Malawi National Women’s Football have reached the 2026 Morocco Women African Cup of Nations after a marginal
but hard-fought 2-1 loss to rivals Zambia in a decisive Group C match.
The Scorchers got a scare in their quest for their quarterfinals appearanc after Zambia scored an early goal in within the first minute through their captain Barbara Banda.
Zambia took a commanding lead through Margaret Belemu who scored in the 32nd minute.
Malawi approached the second half with marauding attacks in a bid to score a goal. But it took the individual brilliance of captain Tabitha Chawinga who scored in the 72nd minute.
The goal proved decisive and crucial as the other Group C match in which Nigeria beat Egypt 4-2 did Malawi a favour to finish top of the with six points on head-to-head goal difference.
Malawi completed a fairytale run having beaten 10-time champions Nigeria 3-2 in the opening match and followed it up with a 3-1 victory over Egypt.
Malawi and Nigeria qualified for the quarterfinals while Zambia, who also accumulated six points and Egypt, who finished with no point, were knocked out.
Meanwhile, the quarterfinals fixtures has drawn Malawi with Ghana, Ivory Coast face Algeria, Morocco locking horns with South and Cameroon date Nigeria.
