2 days ago
The Zambia women's national team have failed to reach the knockout stage of the Women's Africa Cup of Nations and will thus miss out on competing in the 2027 women's World Cup.
Despite beating regional rival Malawi 2-1 in their final WAFCON group-stage match Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco, the Copper Queens were eliminated after Nigeria defeated Egypt in the other Group C match. Zambia was eliminated based on the total number of goals scored among the top three teams.
As a result, WAFCON debutants Malawi have reached the knockout stage of the continental tournament and kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
The final minutes of both fixtures were climactic. Malawi, Nigeria (who are 10-time and reigning WAFCON champions) and Zambia were all level on six points as both games progressed. This eliminated the head-to-head deciding factor between them in favor of the number of goals each of those teams scored against each other.
Malawi upset Nigeria with a 3-2 victory in their first WAFCON match on July 28, thrusting the Super Falcons in a nervy third-place position in their group following Zambia's 6-0 victory over Egypt the same day. Nigeria steadied themselves on Aug. 1 with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia, but still finished the second matchday in third place behind their opponents. Malawi secured their second victory of the tournament with a 1-0 win over Egypt that kept them top of the group heading into the final match day.
#malawi #wafcon #match #final
Despite beating regional rival Malawi 2-1 in their final WAFCON group-stage match Wednesday in Rabat, Morocco, the Copper Queens were eliminated after Nigeria defeated Egypt in the other Group C match. Zambia was eliminated based on the total number of goals scored among the top three teams.
As a result, WAFCON debutants Malawi have reached the knockout stage of the continental tournament and kept alive their hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Women's World Cup.
The final minutes of both fixtures were climactic. Malawi, Nigeria (who are 10-time and reigning WAFCON champions) and Zambia were all level on six points as both games progressed. This eliminated the head-to-head deciding factor between them in favor of the number of goals each of those teams scored against each other.
Malawi upset Nigeria with a 3-2 victory in their first WAFCON match on July 28, thrusting the Super Falcons in a nervy third-place position in their group following Zambia's 6-0 victory over Egypt the same day. Nigeria steadied themselves on Aug. 1 with a crucial 1-0 victory over Zambia, but still finished the second matchday in third place behind their opponents. Malawi secured their second victory of the tournament with a 1-0 win over Egypt that kept them top of the group heading into the final match day.
#malawi #wafcon #match #final
3 days ago
Star striker Thembi Kgatlana scored as South Africa edged Burkina Faso 1-0 on Tuesday to squeeze into the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) quarter-finals in Morocco.
Mexico-based Kgatlana struck her second goal of the tournament after 21 minutes in Casablanca, then her team withstood continuous second-half pressure in a tense match.
The winning goal will haunt Burkinabe central defender Madinatou Rouamba, who failed to cut off a cross from Fikile Magama, leaving Kgatlana to tap the ball past goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou.
Burkina Faso were awarded a penalty just two minutes into the second half, but the decision by the Cameroonian referee was reversed after a VAR review.
The rest of the half saw a string of Burkinabe attacks, but a lack of creativity, wild shooting and an impressive display from goalkeeper Kaylin Swart defied the west Africans.
#burkina #goal
Mexico-based Kgatlana struck her second goal of the tournament after 21 minutes in Casablanca, then her team withstood continuous second-half pressure in a tense match.
The winning goal will haunt Burkinabe central defender Madinatou Rouamba, who failed to cut off a cross from Fikile Magama, leaving Kgatlana to tap the ball past goalkeeper Nina Dabilgou.
Burkina Faso were awarded a penalty just two minutes into the second half, but the decision by the Cameroonian referee was reversed after a VAR review.
The rest of the half saw a string of Burkinabe attacks, but a lack of creativity, wild shooting and an impressive display from goalkeeper Kaylin Swart defied the west Africans.
#burkina #goal
4 days ago
Martine Medesse of Benin Republic's Amazons clears the ball as Nigeria's Super Falcons qualify for the Women Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) 2026 after playing a 1-1 draw (3-1 aggregate) with Benin Republic's Amazons in the second leg of the WAFCON 2026 qualifying match at MKO Abiola Sports Arena in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on October 28, 2025. (Photo by Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The 2026 FIFA World Cup wrapped last month, and with it went 39 days of the kind of moments that make a tournament unforgettable: a teenage phenom stealing highlight reels with his flair, a scrappy underdog nation refusing to go home, a 40-year-old goalkeeper turning in the performance of his career, a nine-figure transfer rumor before the confetti had even settled. For four weeks, the entire sports world organized itself around this single competition. But the appetite for those storylines didn't end when the final whistle blew, and it doesn't need a men's tournament to be satisfied. Right now, in stadiums and arenas across the world, women's sports are producing the exact same arcs: breakout stars, Cinderella runs, veteran redemption stories, record-breaking numbers, and transfer fees rewriting what the sport is worth. They're just not getting the same attention. Here are five World Cup moments and the women's sports stories playing out in real time that deserve to be next on your watchlist.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Liked Lamine Yamal's flair? Watch Morocco's Atlas Lionesses at WAFCON.
Yamal spent this World Cup as one of the most-watched players on the planet, a teenager with more than 50 million Instagram followers turning every touch into a moment. Morocco is hosting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for a third straight edition, running through August 16 across Rabat and Casablanca, and the Atlas Lionesses have opened their campaign in commanding form. They beat Kenya 4-0 to open the tournament, then beat Algeria 1-0 to move to two wins from two matches, sitting atop Group A with five goals scored and none conceded. The breakout to watch is Barcelona Femení prospect Kautar Azraf, flagged by CAF as one of the country's brightest young talents ahead of her first senior call-up, the same "unproven teenager announces herself on the biggest stage" arc that made Yamal a global name this summer.
Liked Cape Verde's underdog run? Watch WAFCON's debutant nations.
Cape Verde's men's team was one of the World Cup's most beloved stories, a nation of fewer than 600,000 people holding its own against the sport's giants. Their women's game has its own version unfolding right now. Cape Verde and Malawi are both playing in their first-ever Women's AFCON this year
The 2026 FIFA World Cup wrapped last month, and with it went 39 days of the kind of moments that make a tournament unforgettable: a teenage phenom stealing highlight reels with his flair, a scrappy underdog nation refusing to go home, a 40-year-old goalkeeper turning in the performance of his career, a nine-figure transfer rumor before the confetti had even settled. For four weeks, the entire sports world organized itself around this single competition. But the appetite for those storylines didn't end when the final whistle blew, and it doesn't need a men's tournament to be satisfied. Right now, in stadiums and arenas across the world, women's sports are producing the exact same arcs: breakout stars, Cinderella runs, veteran redemption stories, record-breaking numbers, and transfer fees rewriting what the sport is worth. They're just not getting the same attention. Here are five World Cup moments and the women's sports stories playing out in real time that deserve to be next on your watchlist.
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 03: Morocco players celebrate advancing to the knock out stage after the 1-0 victory in the FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 Group H match between Morocco and Colombia at Perth Rectangular Stadium on August 03, 2023 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Alex Grimm - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Liked Lamine Yamal's flair? Watch Morocco's Atlas Lionesses at WAFCON.
Yamal spent this World Cup as one of the most-watched players on the planet, a teenager with more than 50 million Instagram followers turning every touch into a moment. Morocco is hosting the Women's Africa Cup of Nations for a third straight edition, running through August 16 across Rabat and Casablanca, and the Atlas Lionesses have opened their campaign in commanding form. They beat Kenya 4-0 to open the tournament, then beat Algeria 1-0 to move to two wins from two matches, sitting atop Group A with five goals scored and none conceded. The breakout to watch is Barcelona Femení prospect Kautar Azraf, flagged by CAF as one of the country's brightest young talents ahead of her first senior call-up, the same "unproven teenager announces herself on the biggest stage" arc that made Yamal a global name this summer.
Liked Cape Verde's underdog run? Watch WAFCON's debutant nations.
Cape Verde's men's team was one of the World Cup's most beloved stories, a nation of fewer than 600,000 people holding its own against the sport's giants. Their women's game has its own version unfolding right now. Cape Verde and Malawi are both playing in their first-ever Women's AFCON this year
6 days ago
Cape Verde is a footballing nation that's on the rise. Fresh from making history at their first men's World Cup, the Cape Verde's women's side broke new ground on Wednesday as they made their WAFCON debut.
Whilst a 2-0 defeat against Ghana wasn't the fairytale start they were hoping for, it was another sizeable milestone in the story of Cape Verdean football. The journey to Morocco 2026 hasn't happened by chance, however. It's the product of a long process that is starting to yield tangible results for the Blue Sharks. The man responsible for overseeing this plan, and much more, is Rui Costa, the national technical director of the Cape Verde Football Federation.
Costa might well be the hardest-working person in show business. "My role covers coach education, talent development, youth football, women's football, and the implementation of long-term technical projects in close collaboration with FIFA, CAF, and other international partners," he tells me. His all-encompassing role also includes "ensuring that our player development pathway is aligned with a clear football philosophy and a sustainable vision for the future."
By his own admission, the role is more than a point of professional pride. It's the culmination of a dream. Costa's journey reflects that of many of the national team players. Leaving the country to pursue increased opportunities before returning home to put those experiences into practice.
"I spent many years in England, where I built my entire coaching career. England gave me the opportunity to become the coach and person I am today. Every morning, I genuinely say, 'Thank you, England.' The experiences, the people, and the football culture shaped me professionally and personally. I learned an incredible amount from English football, and I will always be grateful to the English Football ******* ociation, the clubs I worked with, and everyone who contributed to my journey."
#Football #cape
Whilst a 2-0 defeat against Ghana wasn't the fairytale start they were hoping for, it was another sizeable milestone in the story of Cape Verdean football. The journey to Morocco 2026 hasn't happened by chance, however. It's the product of a long process that is starting to yield tangible results for the Blue Sharks. The man responsible for overseeing this plan, and much more, is Rui Costa, the national technical director of the Cape Verde Football Federation.
Costa might well be the hardest-working person in show business. "My role covers coach education, talent development, youth football, women's football, and the implementation of long-term technical projects in close collaboration with FIFA, CAF, and other international partners," he tells me. His all-encompassing role also includes "ensuring that our player development pathway is aligned with a clear football philosophy and a sustainable vision for the future."
By his own admission, the role is more than a point of professional pride. It's the culmination of a dream. Costa's journey reflects that of many of the national team players. Leaving the country to pursue increased opportunities before returning home to put those experiences into practice.
"I spent many years in England, where I built my entire coaching career. England gave me the opportunity to become the coach and person I am today. Every morning, I genuinely say, 'Thank you, England.' The experiences, the people, and the football culture shaped me professionally and personally. I learned an incredible amount from English football, and I will always be grateful to the English Football ******* ociation, the clubs I worked with, and everyone who contributed to my journey."
#Football #cape
9 days ago
In the 73rd minute of a scoreless match, Malawi forward Temwa Chawinga shot down the field like an arrow to receive a long pass from midfield. The ball dropped into the pocket between the opponent's backline and goalkeeper, a ripe scenario for an attacker whose pace is as blistering as her decision-making.
Chawinga, who plays for the Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League, nudged the ball with her chest to the goalkeeper's left, ran around her right, and found a half volley to begin an extraordinary new chapter of firsts in her career: not only her first goal at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, but also her country's.
Malawi defeated 10-time champions and current continental ***** le holders Nigeria in a dramatic 3-2 upset victory on Tuesday, thanks to two goals from Temwa and one from her older sister and OL Lyonnes forward, Tabitha, at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
The win puts the southern African nation in a crucial second place in their group behind Zambia on goal differential.
"We are going (to WAFCON) to compete, not just to participate," Chawinga told The Athletic before she departed for Morocco.
#temwa #current #goal #city
Chawinga, who plays for the Kansas City Current in the National Women's Soccer League, nudged the ball with her chest to the goalkeeper's left, ran around her right, and found a half volley to begin an extraordinary new chapter of firsts in her career: not only her first goal at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, but also her country's.
Malawi defeated 10-time champions and current continental ***** le holders Nigeria in a dramatic 3-2 upset victory on Tuesday, thanks to two goals from Temwa and one from her older sister and OL Lyonnes forward, Tabitha, at the Al Medina Stadium in Rabat, Morocco.
The win puts the southern African nation in a crucial second place in their group behind Zambia on goal differential.
"We are going (to WAFCON) to compete, not just to participate," Chawinga told The Athletic before she departed for Morocco.
#temwa #current #goal #city
10 days ago
'Briu' is a Cape Verdean Creole word that can mean grit, determination, drive, focus or energy. That's how national team forward Sandra Soares-Martins describes the mood in camp as her side prepares for its first-ever WAFCON match.
But such is the rise of the country's national teams as a whole within the past decade, 'briu' could be used to describe the Cape Verdean Football Federation.
While the men's side were making history competing in a first-ever senior World Cup, the women's team were busy putting the final touches to their preparations to create yet more history for the island nation.
The newly expanded 16-team tournament is underway in Morocco after kicking off Sunday, July 26, following a delay from March.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) expanded the tournament from 12 to 16 teams after qualification ended. Before that decision, Cape Verde secured their place in Morocco by winning two-legged ties against Guinea and Mali.
#morocco #briu #side #ever
But such is the rise of the country's national teams as a whole within the past decade, 'briu' could be used to describe the Cape Verdean Football Federation.
While the men's side were making history competing in a first-ever senior World Cup, the women's team were busy putting the final touches to their preparations to create yet more history for the island nation.
The newly expanded 16-team tournament is underway in Morocco after kicking off Sunday, July 26, following a delay from March.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) expanded the tournament from 12 to 16 teams after qualification ended. Before that decision, Cape Verde secured their place in Morocco by winning two-legged ties against Guinea and Mali.
#morocco #briu #side #ever
