WAFCON Group C produced two victories built around adversity on Saturday. Malawi defeated Egypt 3-1 despite playing most of the second half with ten players, before Nigeria protected an early lead against Zambia following Oluwatosin Demehin’s dismissal.
The methods were entirely different. Malawi continued attacking and scored again after their red card. Nigeria accepted a more defensive contest and prevented a Zambia side that had scored six in its opening match from finding an equaliser.
Together, those results have created a fascinating final night. Malawi lead the group with six points, while Zambia and Nigeria remain locked behind them on three.
Malawi Refuse to Retreat
Malawi’s opening victory over Nigeria ensured Egypt could not underestimate the WAFCON debutants. Temwa Chawinga soon provided another demonstration of why the Scorchers are becoming one of the tournament’s most difficult opponents.
After testing the Egyptian goalkeeper herself, Chawinga created the opening goal in the 35th minute. Her carefully weighted pass allowed Rose Kadzere to finish from close range and reward Malawi’s attacking intent.
Faith Chinzimu doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time. Her initial header was saved, but she reacted before the Egyptian defence and volleyed the rebound into the net.
The match appeared to change in the 52nd minute when Rose Alufandika received a straight red card for bringing down Habiba Hafez as she ran towards goal. Malawi suddenly faced the prospect of defending a two-goal advantage for almost the entire second half. They did not respond by abandoning their attacking threat.
Kadzere supplied Chawinga in the 69th minute, and the forward lifted a header beyond the advancing goalkeeper to make it 3-0. Egypt answered two minutes later when Eldanbouki created the opportunity for Eman Hassan, but Malawi remained organised enough to prevent the goal from developing into a comeback.
The Scorchers finished with nine shots on target to Egypt’s six. Even with a player missing, their ability to counterattack ensured Egypt could never commit everyone forward without leaving space for Chawinga.
Chawinga Is Giving Malawi More Than Goals
Chawinga scored twice in Malawi’s historic 3-2 victory over Nigeria. Against Egypt, she added another goal and created the opener for Kadzere.
Her influence explains why Malawi’s strong start is becoming more than an uplifting debut story. Opponents cannot simply focus on stopping Chawinga from shooting. She can carry attacks, draw defenders towards her and create opportunities for the players moving around her.
Kadzere’s contribution was equally important. After scoring the first goal, she supplied the third, giving Malawi another source of creativity in an attack that could otherwise become too dependent on its leading name.
Six points from two games have placed the Scorchers on the verge of the quarter-finals. However, a final meeting with Zambia means their work is not yet complete.
Nigeria Find a Way to Survive
Nigeria required a completely different response against Zambia. After losing their opening match to Malawi, the defending champions could not afford another defeat. Asisat Oshoala eased that pressure by scoring in the eighth minute, giving Nigeria an advantage they would ultimately protect for the rest of the evening.
Demehin’s second yellow card in the 40th minute placed the Super Falcons in a precarious position. Zambia had registered 13 shots on target and scored six goals against Egypt, with Barbra Banda finding the net four times. Facing that attack with ten players should have given Nigeria an exhausting second half.
Zambia pushed forward, but Nigeria restricted them to only one shot on target across the entire match. The defending champions did not produce their most expansive football, yet that was no longer the requirement. Protecting central areas and denying Zambia clean opportunities became more important than controlling the match.
Oshoala’s goal therefore carried increasing value with every successful defensive intervention. One early finish was enough to turn a potentially damaging start to the tournament into a viable route towards the quarter-finals.
Zambia’s Transformation Raises a New Question
Few performances on the opening matchday were as emphatic as Zambia’s 6-0 victory over Egypt. Their attack appeared capable of overwhelming almost anyone, and Banda’s four goals immediately placed her among the tournament’s central figures.
Against Nigeria, that fluency disappeared, even after the Super Falcons went down to ten.
The fall from 13 shots on target against Egypt to only one against Nigeria illustrates the difference between exploiting an open match and breaking down an experienced, compact defence. Zambia still possess the firepower to progress, but their final game against Malawi will test whether they can adapt when their preferred attacking spaces are unavailable.
WAFCON Group C Will Be Decided on the Final Night
Malawi enter the final round three points clear, but the group has not been settled. A draw against Zambia would guarantee the debutants a place in the quarter-finals.
Defeat could create a three-way tie on six points if Nigeria also beat Egypt. Without confirmed tie-breaking details, finishing first—or even progressing—could then depend on the final scores.
Nigeria know victory over Egypt would take them to six points and give them a strong opportunity to advance. Zambia can also reach six by beating Malawi, while Egypt require a victory and favourable results elsewhere to retain any hope.
Group C began with Malawi shocking the champions and Zambia scoring six. Two matches later, Nigeria have recovered, Zambia have been slowed and Malawi stand closest to the knockout stage.
The final question is whether the Scorchers can complete their remarkable group campaign—or whether Nigeria and Zambia can turn their pursuit into a three-team calculation.
Matchday Two Results
- Malawi 3-1 Egypt
- Rose Kadzere 35’
- Faith Chinzimu 45+2’
- Temwa Chawinga 69’
- Eman Hassan 71’
- Red card: Rose Alufandika 52’ (Malawi)
- Nigeria 1-0 Zambia
- Asisat Oshoala 8’
- Red card: Oluwatosin Demehin 40’ (Nigeria, second yellow)
WAFCON Group C Table
| Position | Team | Points | GD |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malawi | 6 | +3 |
| 2 | Zambia | 3 | +5 |
| 3 | Nigeria | 3 | 0 |
| 4 | Egypt | 0 | −8 |
Final Group C Fixtures
Both matches take place on 5 August 2026 at 22:00 CET.
- Egypt vs Nigeria
- Malawi vs Zambia
Or go to the full WAFCON 2026 Schedule.
Source: CAF
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