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WAFCON Saturday fixtures: Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt and Malawi set for decisive clashes
01st August, 2026 01:36 PM
Defending champions Nigeria head into a crucial Group C showdown against Zambia at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2026 knowing that anything less than victory could leave their title defence hanging by a thread on Saturday, August 1, 2026.
The two African heavyweights meet at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Saturday evening in a fixture that has become one of the tournament’s fiercest rivalries.
While Zambia arrive full of confidence after dismantling Egypt 6-0 in their opening match, Nigeria are under pressure following a surprise 3-2 defeat to tournament debutants Malawi.
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The match will be the fifth WAFCON meeting between the two nations and their third clash in the group stage.
Nigeria have dominated the rivalry, winning three of the previous four encounters while scoring 15 goals and conceding just one.
Their latest meeting ended in an emphatic 5-0 quarter-final victory, with Osinachi Ohale, Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, Oluwatosin Demehin and Folashade Ijamilusi all finding the net.
Despite that impressive record, Nigeria enter this encounter facing an unfamiliar challenge.
The defeat to Malawi marked the first time the Super Falcons have ever lost to tournament debutants and also the first occasion they have conceded three goals in a WAFCON match.
A failure to beat Zambia would leave Nigeria without a win from their opening two fixtures for only the second time in the competition’s history, having previously started the 2008 tournament with back-to-back draws.
If they lose and Malawi overcome Egypt, the defending champions would be eliminated in the group stage for the first time ever, becoming the first reigning WAFCON champions to suffer such a fate.
Captain Rasheedat Ajibade will once again be expected to lead Nigeria’s attack after scoring against Malawi to register her sixth career WAFCON goal. Uchenna Kanu also found the net in the opening fixture, taking her tournament tally to three goals.
Zambia, meanwhile, are aiming to build on one of the most dominant performances of the opening round. Their 6-0 victory over Egypt was the biggest win in the country’s WAFCON history, surpassing the 5-0 triumph over Equatorial Guinea in 2018.
The Copper Queens have never won their opening two group-stage matches at the finals, but victory over Nigeria would secure qualification for the knockout rounds for a third consecutive edition if Malawi avoid defeat against Egypt.
Much of Zambia’s hopes rest on captain Barbra Banda, who delivered a sensational four-goal display against Egypt. The performance made her the first Zambian player to score a WAFCON hat-trick and took her tournament tally to seven goals across two editions.
Banda also became the first player since Nigeria’s Asisat Oshoala in 2016 to score four goals in a single WAFCON match. Her remarkable display continued a trend of prolific performances at major tournaments, having previously registered hat-tricks at both the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Supporting Banda is Grace Chanda, who produced six key passes against Egypt as Zambia dominated the contest with 34 shots, including 12 on target, while also winning eight corners without conceding one.
History may favour Nigeria, but current form points towards a fiercely contested battle. With the Super Falcons desperate to revive their title defence and Zambia eager to secure an early place in the knockout rounds, Saturday’s Group C clash promises to be one of the standout matches of the tournament.
Egypt vs Malawi
Following their opening day defeat, Egypt’s future in the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 is already hanging in thin air.
Facing an in-form Malawi side riding high on enviable momentum after their resounding 3-2 victory against the defending champions and 10-time record winners Nigeria, Mohamed Kamal’s players must bounce back on Saturday in Rabat.
For the Egyptians, the equation is simple; another slip-up would seriously jeopardise their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the Scorchers can secure their place in the knockout stages with a second consecutive win.
