Zambia’s Copper Queens have suffered a heartbreaking exit from the 2026 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), ending their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The elimination came despite Zambia producing one of the strongest statistical performances during the group stage, scoring the most goals in their group and conceding the fewest.
The Copper Queens finished the group phase level on six points with Malawi and Nigeria, creating a three-way tie that had to be decided using the competition’s tiebreaking rules.
However, Zambia was knocked out after the head-to-head goals scored rule was applied among the three teams.
In matches involving the three tied sides, Zambia managed to score only two goals, while Malawi recorded four and Nigeria scored three. The figures placed Zambia behind their rivals despite their impressive overall goal difference.
The result has brought a painful end to Zambia’s campaign, especially considering the team’s strong attacking and defensive record throughout the tournament.
The Copper Queens had entered the competition with high expectations after becoming one of Africa’s most competitive women’s football teams in recent years.
Their squad featured several experienced players who have helped raise Zambia’s profile on the international stage, including their performances at previous Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Missing out on the knockout stage also means Zambia will not be able to compete for one of the qualification places linked to the 2027 Women’s World Cup.
