The Copper Queens will battle Southern African neighbours Malawi tonight in a decisive Group C clash at the 2026 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), with a place in the quarterfinals on the line.
The match will be played at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat, where regional pride and knockout qualification are both at stake.
“Malawi Are Equal to Us” – Häuptle
Despite Zambia’s impressive record at recent WAFCON tournaments, head coach Nora Häuptle believes there is very little to separate the two neighbouring nations.
The Swiss tactician praised Malawi’s squad depth and quality, insisting the Scorchers possess many of the same strengths as the Copper Queens.
“This squad is as equal to us. They have top players at club level, and they have players abroad; they also have good players in the squad behind the top players. So it’s a very similar team in the picture to our team,” Häuptle said.
She also pointed out that the two teams know each other well, making tactical surprises unlikely.
“We know about their strength. We also played against each other a lot, so players know each other. Tactic-wise, there are not so many secrets in this game, but again, we bounce back to us.”
Everything to Play For
Malawi head into the encounter in excellent form after recording back-to-back victories over Egypt and Nigeria, collecting six points from their opening two matches.
Zambia, meanwhile, opened the tournament with a convincing win over Egypt before suffering a narrow defeat to defending champions Nigeria, leaving the Copper Queens on three points.
A positive result tonight would secure Zambia’s place in the knockout stages.
Star Power on Display
The Southern African derby will feature some of the continent’s biggest stars.
Zambia will once again look to captain Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji to provide the attacking spark, while Malawi’s hopes rest largely on the influential Temwa Chawinga and Tabitha Chawinga, who have been instrumental in the Scorchers’ impressive campaign.
Regional Rivals Meet Again
With both teams familiar with each other’s style of play, the contest is expected to be fiercely competitive.
Beyond qualification, local bragging rights and Group C supremacy add even greater significance to what promises to be one of the standout fixtures of the tournament.
Kick-off is scheduled for 22:00 CAT at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
Conclusion
The Copper Queens know exactly what is at stake as they prepare for one of their biggest matches of the tournament.
Against an in-form Malawi side, Zambia will need another disciplined and inspired performance if they are to secure a place in the WAFCON quarterfinals and continue their quest for continental glory.
