Malawi have emerged as winners of Group C after a remarkable three-way tie with Nigeria and Zambia, with the group standings ultimately decided by goals scored in matches involving the tied teams.
All three sides finished level on three points in their head-to-head mini league, forcing the application of the tournament’s tie-breaking criteria as stipulated under Article 71.2 of the competition regulations.
The first criterion considered was points obtained in matches played among the tied teams. Malawi, Nigeria and Zambia each accumulated three points, leaving them inseparable.
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The next tiebreaker was goal difference in the matches involving the three nations. Once again, all three teams finished with an identical goal difference of zero.
Malawi scored three goals and conceded two in their 3-2 victory over Nigeria before losing 2-1 to Zambia, leaving them with four goals scored and four conceded.
Nigeria defeated Zambia 1-0 but lost 3-2 to Malawi, finishing with three goals scored and three conceded.
Zambia lost 1-0 to Nigeria before beating Malawi 2-1, ending with two goals scored and two conceded.
With goal difference unable to separate the teams, the regulations moved to the next criterion – goals scored in matches among the tied sides.
Malawi topped the standings with four goals scored, ahead of Nigeria with three, while Zambia finished with two.
The outcome means Malawi are confirmed as Group C winners, with Nigeria finishing second and Zambia third after one of the tournament’s closest group-stage finishes, where the tie-breaker rules proved decisive.
