The Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 has already produced a major surprise, with Malawi recording a stunning victory over Nigeria, while Zambia continued their impressive run with a comfortable win against Egypt. The results have added excitement to the tournament and demonstrated the increasing strength and competitiveness of women’s football across Africa.
Malawi Produce a Historic Win Over Nigeria
Malawi achieved one of the tournament’s biggest upsets by overcoming Nigeria, a nation with a long-standing record of success in African women’s football. The victory highlighted Malawi’s confidence, tactical discipline, and determination against one of the continent’s most respected teams.
Although Nigeria began the match as favourites, Malawi remained organised, defended effectively, and took advantage of their opportunities in attack. Their performance showed how much progress the team has made and proved they can compete with Africa’s traditional football giants.
For Nigeria, the result serves as a warning that the level of competition in African women’s football is becoming increasingly challenging, with more teams capable of producing unexpected results.
Zambia Continue Their Impressive Tournament Start
While Malawi celebrated a remarkable achievement, Zambia delivered a commanding performance against Egypt. The Copper Queens showed their quality throughout the match, combining strong attacking play with effective teamwork and tactical control.
The result further strengthens Zambia’s position as one of the leading teams in African women’s football. With a talented squad and valuable international experience, they remain serious contenders for success in the competition.
Women’s Football in Africa Continues to Grow
The latest results reflect the rapid development of women’s football across the continent. The traditional powerhouses can no longer assume easy victories, as emerging teams continue to improve through better coaching, stronger development programmes, and increased investment.
The progress of teams like Malawi and Zambia demonstrates that African women’s football is becoming more competitive, with a wider group of nations capable of challenging for honours.
Impact on the Tournament
Malawi’s surprise victory gives them valuable confidence as they look ahead to their remaining fixtures, while Nigeria faces pressure to recover and strengthen their position in the competition.
Zambia will aim to maintain their excellent form and build on their strong performances as they pursue a successful tournament campaign.
Conclusion
The Women’s AFCON 2026 has already delivered memorable moments, with Malawi’s unexpected triumph over Nigeria and Zambia’s convincing victory over Egypt setting the tone for an exciting competition. These results highlight the growing quality of women’s football in Africa and suggest that more thrilling encounters are likely as the tournament continues.