Zambia won in Rabat and are out of the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Malawi lost and qualified as Group C winners.
Both Zambian goals came before the break. Barbra Banda scored in the second minute, set up by Lushomo Mweemba, and Prisca Chilufya added the second in the 37th, served by Margaret Belemu.
After that Zambia did not put another ball between the posts. They had six attempts in the second half and none of them was on target.
Malawi only needed a draw to finish top. They lost and finished top anyway.
Both sides created the same
Malawi generated 0.69 expected goals. Zambia, 0.68.
The difference was in the clear chances. Malawi had three and all three came after the break. Zambia had none in ninety minutes.
And it was in the goalkeepers. Hazel Nali made four saves. Mercy Sikelo made one and ended up conceding 1.12 goals more than the model expected from the shots she faced.
The most valuable attempt of the match was missed by Zambia. It fell to Ochumba Lubandji, who had come on in the 73rd minute: 0.27 expected goals, more than any of the three that did go in.
Banda’s opener went in worth 0.02 xGOT, which is what that shot was valued at once it was on its way to goal.
Malawi were shown four yellow cards and Zambia none. Letticia Chinyamula and Madyina Nguluwe were booked in the 53rd and 54th minutes; Tendai Sani, who had come on to replace Nguluwe, in the 67th; Rose Kadzere, in the 84th.
The goal was scored by the sister who had not been scoring
Tabitha Chawinga pulled one back in the 72nd minute.
Temwa Chawinga, twice the best player in the American league, arrived with three goals in two matches: two against Nigeria and one against Egypt.
On Wednesday she had one attempt and did not score.
The group was decided by two goals
Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia all finished on six points.
Of the three, Zambia had the best overall goal difference: +6, against Nigeria’s +4 and Malawi’s +2. It was no use to them, because the regulations look first at what happened between the sides that are level.
And there they were still level. Three points each and a goal difference of zero each.
The next criterion is goals scored in those three matches. Malawi scored four, Nigeria three and Zambia two.
Zambia had reached that tally by losing 1-0 to Nigeria and winning 1-2 on Wednesday.
The table finished with Malawi first, Nigeria second and Zambia third.
Malawi are making their debut in the tournament and will play their quarter-final against the Group D runners-up, who are decided on Thursday.
