Egypt fighting for survival against Malawi

Following their opening day defeat, Egypt's future in the TotalEnergies CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2026 is already hanging in thin air. 

Facing an in-form Malawi side riding high on enviable momentum after their resounding 3-2 victory against the defending champions and 10-time record winners Nigeria, Mohamed Kamal's players must bounce back on Saturday in Rabat.

For the Egyptians, the equation is simple; another slip-up would seriously jeopardize their chances of qualifying for the quarterfinals. Meanwhile, the Scorchers can secure their place in the knockout stages with a second consecutive win.

Mohamed Kamal: "Show the true face of Egypt"

Aware of the magnitude of the challenge, the Egyptian coach nevertheless refuses to panic. Despite the 6-0 defeat against Zambia in their opening match, he believes his team is still in a learning phase.

“We want to show the true face of the Egyptian team. We analyzed the mistakes from the first match, and the players are increasingly understanding the demands of a tournament of this magnitude," explained Kamal. The coach reiterated that his team is still in a learning phase after a decade-long absence from the continental stage. 

He further explained, “These matches are essential for our development. We are building a young generation that needs to learn against teams like Zambia, Nigeria, and Malawi. Every match, every training session, every press conference is an experience that will help us progress." 

The coach also did not underestimate their next opponent. He continued, “Malawi caused a huge upset. They are a quality team with very talented players. We are preparing for this match with great focus. 

Nadin Ghazi: “It would be a rebirth.”

Egyptian captain Nadin Ghazi displayed unwavering determination despite the opening defeat. She said, “We are even more motivated than in the first match. We want to show what Egyptian women’s football represents and makes our families, our fans, and the entire nation proud.”

For the Egyptian international, this match represents a real turning point.

“Winning this match would be a rebirth for us. We deserve a second chance. No matter how, our only objective is to take the three points.” 

Ghazi also affirms that she draws her confidence from the team’s solidarity. “I trust my coach, my staff, and my teammates. If we stay united, we can compete with any team.”

Malawi refuses any euphoria

After their victory against Nigeria, Malawi have become the team everyone is talking about in this WAFCON. However, the Malawi head coach Lovemore Fazili is making sure his players stay grounded. “It will be a completely different match,” he said.  

“We have prepared well for this match and we know it won't be easy. There's a lot of pressure because we absolutely want to win.” 

When repeatedly asked about the risk of complacency after the victory against the reigning champions, the coach reiterated the same message. “We are not taking Egypt lightly. We know they can cause us a lot of problems. Our team is ready, and we have prepared for this match with the utmost seriousness.”

The coach set the record straight, “We came here to achieve something. We want to reach the quarterfinals.”

Malawian midfielder Leticia Chinyamula added to the discourse, “Don't judge a book by its cover." A symbol of this new Malawian generation, Chinyamula believes her team is only now beginning to reveal their potential. “Many people underestimated us for a long time. Today is our moment. Don't judge a book by its cover because you never know what's inside." 

The 20-year WAFCON debutant insists that the victory against Nigeria is already in the past. She explained, “We’ve put that win behind us. Our entire focus is now on Egypt, and we want to perform even better.”

The Stat of the Day

Egypt are facing a Southern African nation for the fourth time they have one win and two losses. Egypt have lost their last two games to COSAFA teams, 6-0 at the current edition against Zambia and 5-0 against South Africa in their final game in 2016. Egypt’s only win at the finals came against Zimbabwe in their second game in 2016 a 1-0 win.