Malawi produced one of the greatest upsets in WAFCON history before Barbra Banda scored four times as Zambia moved top of Group C. The tournament debutants defeated 10-time champions Nigeria 3-2 through goals from sisters Temwa and Tabita Chawinga. Zambia then recorded their largest WAFCON victory by beating Egypt 6-0, with Banda directly involved in five goals.
Zambia lead the group on goal difference, followed by Malawi. Nigeria and Egypt begin the second round without a point. That makes Saturday’s meeting between Zambia and Nigeria far more than an early contest between two leading nations. The defending champions could already be playing to keep their tournament alive.
Malawi Refused to Play Like Debutants
Malawi entered their first WAFCON match against the most successful team in the tournament’s history. Nigeria had never lost to a debutant since the competition began in 1998. Malawi became the first newcomers to defeat the reigning champions.
The opening half established that the Scorchers were not intimidated by the occasion. Malawi remained compact, defended with discipline and prevented Nigeria’s spells of possession from producing enough clear opportunities. The longer the match remained goalless, the more confident the debutants became.
Nigeria eventually recorded 11 shots on target, but Malawi managed seven of their own. This was not a victory created through one isolated counterattack. The Scorchers repeatedly demonstrated that they could threaten whenever the Chawinga sisters found space.
The Chawinga Sisters Changed the Match
The breakthrough arrived in the 73rd minute. Ireen Khumalo created the opportunity for Temwa Chawinga, who scored Malawi’s first goal at a major continental tournament. Six minutes later, Tabita Chawinga doubled the lead after being supplied by Sabina Thom.
The sisters had been identified as the players capable of making Malawi dangerous before the tournament. Against Nigeria, they converted that reputation into a two-goal advantage within six minutes.
Their goals also changed Nigeria’s task completely. The champions were no longer trying to find one breakthrough against an organised opponent; they needed to overturn a deficit against a team whose most dangerous attackers were growing in confidence.
Nine Minutes of Stoppage-Time Chaos
Nigeria finally found a route back when Rasheedat Ajibade converted a penalty in the second minute of stoppage time.
For the first time, Malawi’s historic victory appeared vulnerable. The champions had reduced the deficit, seized the momentum and still had several minutes to force an equaliser.
Malawi’s response revealed as much about their performance as the two earlier goals. Instead of retreating and inviting another Nigerian attack, they broke forward again. Benadetta Mkandawire released Temwa Chawinga, who completed her brace and restored the two-goal cushion only three minutes after Ajibade’s penalty.
Uchenna Kanu scored again for Nigeria in the ninth added minute, creating one final moment of tension. Yet Temwa’s second goal had given Malawi just enough protection. What initially looked like the beginning of a dramatic Nigerian escape became proof that the debutants could respond when the champions applied their greatest pressure.
Zambia Needed One Half to Find Their Ruthlessness
Zambia’s evening began more patiently. Racheal Nachula converted a penalty in the 25th minute, but Egypt reached half-time only one goal behind despite sustained pressure from the Copper Queens. The match changed after a second penalty was awarded following a VAR review.
Banda converted in the 61st minute and scored again two minutes later, turning a manageable Egyptian deficit into a three-goal gap. Her hat-trick arrived in the 88th minute after Egypt failed to clear the ball inside the penalty area.
Banda then created Zambia’s fifth goal for substitute Eneless Phiri in the third minute of stoppage time before scoring her fourth at 90+7. Zambia finished with 13 shots on target compared with Egypt’s three. Their second-half finishing turned that superiority into the largest WAFCON victory in the country’s history.
Banda Made Zambia’s Ambition Visible
Zambia arrived at the tournament with expectations extending beyond qualification from the group. Banda’s performance demonstrated why.
The captain scored from the penalty spot, converted an inviting delivery, punished a failed clearance and completed the evening with another composed finish. She also showed the awareness to create Phiri’s stoppage-time goal instead of forcing another attempt for herself.
That variety made the performance more significant than the final total alone. She influenced the match through movement, finishing, strength inside the penalty area and creativity for a teammate.
Zambia’s attacking threat also extends beyond their captain, but Group C’s other defenders have now received an unmistakable warning about what can happen if Banda is repeatedly allowed into scoring positions.
Nigeria Now Face the Worst Possible Opponent
Nigeria’s next WAFCON match is against a Zambia side carrying the confidence of a six-goal victory. The fixture takes place on 1 August at 22:00 CET, three hours after Malawi face Egypt.
By kick-off, Nigeria will already know whether Malawi have moved to six points. Another defeat could leave the champions facing elimination depending on the earlier result.
Zambia enter from the opposite position. Victory would give them six points and place them close to the quarter-finals while defeating the team expected to challenge them for control of the group.
Nigeria must improve defensively without losing the attacking urgency shown during stoppage time against Malawi. Zambia must prove that their ruthlessness against Egypt can survive a much stronger opponent.
Malawi Have Changed What Is Possible
Malawi meet Egypt at 19:00 CET with an opportunity to build upon the greatest result in their history. They no longer need to approach the group as debutants hoping to compete. Three points against Nigeria have given them a genuine route towards the knockout stage.
Egypt must recover from conceding six goals, while also preparing for two of the tournament’s most dangerous forwards. The group was expected to be shaped by Nigeria’s experience and Zambia’s attacking talent. Both remain important, but Malawi have inserted themselves into that contest before either favourite could settle.
After one round, Zambia lead through force, Malawi follow through history, and Nigeria are already chasing both.
Source: CAF
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