Zambia bowed out of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations despite securing a 2-1 victory over Malawi in their final Group C match on Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

Barbra Banda gave the Copper Queens an early lead before Prisca Chilufya doubled the advantage before half-time.

Tabitha Chawinga pulled one back for Malawi in the second half, but Zambia held on for all three points.

However, the victory was not enough to send Zambia into the quarter-finals.

With Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia all finishing on six points, CAF's head-to-head tiebreak criteria left the Copper Queens in third place, ending their campaign despite winning their final group match.

The result marked a heartbreaking exit for one of the tournament favourites, with the star-studded Zambian side featuring Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji falling short of the knockout stage.

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PAH/JKB