WAFCON 2026: Why were Zambia knocked out despite beating Malawi?

By: Naa Amanoa Asamoah

Date: 5th August 2026

5 days ago

Zambia’s exit from the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations has left many fans asking the same question.

The Copper Queens beat Malawi 2-1 in their final Group C match, finished level on six points with both Malawi and Nigeria, and ended the group with the best overall goal difference.

So why did they fail to reach the quarter-finals?

Why didn’t overall goal difference decide the group?

Because Article 71 of the regulations of the Women’s African Cup of Nations competition rules say it is not the first tiebreaker when three or more teams finish level on points.

Instead, the teams are separated by their results against each other only.

That means matches involving Egypt were initially ignored, including Zambia’s 6-0 victory.

Which matches counted?

Only the games involving the three tied teams:

Malawi 3-2 Nigeria
Nigeria 1-0 Zambia
Zambia 2-1 Malawi

These three matches formed a separate “mini-league”.

How were the teams separated?

First, the number of points won in those head-to-head matches are looked at.

Each team won one game and lost one game, so all finished on three points.

The next tiebreaker was goal difference in those same matches.

Malawi: 4 scored, 4 conceded (0)
Nigeria: 3 scored, 3 conceded (0)
Zambia: 2 scored, 2 conceded (0)

The teams were still level.

CAF then moved to the next criterion: goals scored in the head-to-head matches.

Malawi: 4 goals
Nigeria: 3 goals
Zambia: 2 goals

That determined the final order.

Were the teams aware of the regulations?

Yes.

All teams received the tournament regulations before the competition began. After the second-round group matches, CAF reminded teams about the regulations again going into the last round of group matches, as the rules may be applied.

So why were Zambia eliminated?

Although Zambia had the best overall goal difference in the group, those numbers were never used because the head-to-head criteria had already separated the teams.

Malawi finished top of the mini-league by scoring the most goals against the other tied sides.

Nigeria were second.

Zambia, despite beating Malawi and recording the biggest win of the group stage against Egypt, finished third and were eliminated.

Why has the decision caused confusion?

Many supporters are more familiar with tournaments where overall goal difference is the first tiebreaker.

The WAFCON competition regulations are different but all teams

According to article 71.2 of the regulation of WAFCON, when three or more teams are level on points, the tournament first considers only the results between those teams. Overall goal difference is only used if the head-to-head criteria cannot separate them.

In Group C, those head-to-head rules produced a clear ranking, meaning Zambia’s 6-0 victory over Egypt had no bearing on who advanced.