DO OR DIE FOR COPPER QUEENS: Zambia must win today’s WAFCON decider or go home

Copper Queens

Zambia face an in-form Malawi at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday, 5 August at 22:00 CAT in a Group C finale where the stakes are brutally clear: win or go home.

For Malawi, the mission is different. The Scorchers are already unbeaten, top of the group, and only need a draw to finish first. They are playing to make history as Zambia are playing for survival.

Malawi under coach Lovemore Fazili have been the surprise package of the tournament. They shocked defending champions Nigeria and backed it up with a 3-1 win over Egypt. Six points, goals flowing, and momentum building.

Goalkeeper Hazel Nali says Malawi’s biggest threat is pace.
“The team we’re going to play has players with speed, just like we have in training with Barbra Banda, Rachael Kundananji and the others.

“That is something we’re working on as a team. It may be considered one of our weaknesses, but trust me, we’re working on it and hopefully we’ll get it right in tomorrow’s game,” Nali said.

Malawi have also been boosted by the return of Asimenye Simwaka, with Fazili calling it “a morale booster to the team and the squad.” Even without suspended defender Rose Alufandika, Fazili insists they have “a plan B” and are going for the win, not the draw.

“We are focused on winning the game, not thinking about a draw… If we win, we will have nine points, so it will be good for Malawi to collect nine points in this group,” Fazili said.

Copper Queens coach Nora Häuptle says Zambia are not panicking. Despite needing all three points, she says the pressure is a privilege.

“We are in a good position, all in our hands. For me, it’s a privilege to be in this situation. To play the last game in this group and to be in the situation where it’s in our hands. We don’t need to rely on other results but what we face; that’s not pressure,” Häuptle said.

The Swiss coach says Zambia will ignore the permutations and stick to performance.
“We don’t go out and calculate tomorrow on the pitch. We go out and focus on our performance, as always. We have a clear approach to how we want to face Malawi. I think we played three very good halftimes out of the last four, and we want to build on this stable approach.”

Häuptle expects a tactical battle with few secrets. The two sides have met often.
“This squad is as equal to us… We know about their strength. We also played against each other a lot, so players know each other. Tactic-wise, there are not so many secrets, I would say, in this game, but again, we bounce back to us.”

Zambia received a scare after Racheal Kundananji limped off against Nigeria. Häuptle confirmed the forward is being treated for a muscle strain suffered in that match. Her availability for Wednesday remains in doubt.

For Hazel Nali, it comes down to mentality. Zambia have recent wins over Malawi — 2-0 and 3-2 in February — but she says that counts for nothing.

“We know exactly what we want and we know exactly what’s on the table. Our main focus is to work extra hard because football is played on the pitch. What we want as a team is to fight and give our all for the country,” Nali said.

She called for unity to deal with Malawi’s attack.
“We want to play as a team because we’re in this together and we want to do this together… What is going to count is how we display ourselves today.”

The last meeting at Bingu ended 1-1. This one will have a winner.

One team chases history. The other fights for survival. For the Copper Queens, there is no tomorrow without a win.