COPPER QUEENS ON THE BRINK… as Norah rallying Zambia for full courage Malawi showdown

COPPER QUEENS ON THE BRINK… as Norah rallying Zambia for full courage Malawi showdown THE Zambia’s Women’s National Team faces a must-win Group C clash against regional rivals Malawi tonight to keep their 2026 tournament hopes alive. The stakes could not be higher for the Cooper Queens who are sitting in a high-pressure position in […]

COPPER QUEENS ON THE BRINK
… as Norah rallying Zambia for full courage Malawi showdown

THE Zambia’s Women’s National Team faces a must-win Group C clash against regional rivals Malawi tonight to keep their 2026 tournament hopes alive.

The stakes could not be higher for the Cooper Queens who are  sitting in a high-pressure position in Group C,

Zambia enters tonight’s crucial fixture knowing that only a victory against neighbours Malawi could guarantee their advancement to the knockout stage.

Malawi currently commands the group with six points, putting the tactical burden squarely on Zambia to disrupt their momentum.

Head coachNorah Hauptle remained fiercely confident during a presser emphasising that while Zambia respected Malawi’s threats, the ultimate focus remained internal.

The two sides have faced off roughly three times over the past year.

Hauptle highlighted Malawi’s star power, specifically the lethal Chawinga sisters and several highly competitive overseas squad members playing in France.

But both squads feature a remarkably similar mix of international and domestic talent.

Despite Malawi’s perfect points record in the group so far, Hauptle was drawing a clear line in the sand.

The strategy for tonight was not about containment—it was about execution and survival.

“We know what we have to do,” Hauptle declared. “We have to gain pointsband we need to beat Malawi to stay in the tournament. This will be our approach: going out with full courage.”

With tournament survival on the line, the Copper Queens are banking on their own high-caliber international experience to level the playing field, silence their neighbours, and secure a spot in the next round.- ALENDO SPORTS