Zambia begin another bid for a first Women’s Africa Cup of Nations title on Tuesday when they face Egypt in their opening Group C fixture at the Rabat Olympic Stadium.
The Copper Queens arrive in Morocco as one of Africa’s rising powers after finishing third in 2022 and reaching the knockout stage again at the last edition, while Egypt return to the continental finals for the first time in a decade hoping to write a new chapter in their WAFCON history.
With Nigeria and Malawi also in Group C, both sides know a positive start could prove crucial in the race for a place in the quarterfinals.
Match facts
- This will be the first-ever WAFCON meeting between Zambia and Egypt.
- Zambia have previously faced North African opposition twice at the finals, remaining unbeaten with one win and one draw.
- Both previous meetings came during the group stage.
- Zambia defeated Tunisia 1-0 in Casablanca at the 2022 tournament through Avell Chitundu’s stoppage-time winner.
- Their most recent meeting against North African opposition ended in a thrilling 2-2 draw with hosts Morocco at the 2024 edition.
- Barbra Banda scored after just 58 seconds against Morocco before Racheal Kundananji restored Zambia’s lead midway through the first half, although Ghizlane Chebbak rescued a late point for the hosts.
- Egypt’s previous two WAFCON meetings against Southern African opposition have produced one victory and one defeat.
- The Pharaohs defeated Zimbabwe 1-0 in 2016 after opening their campaign with four consecutive defeats at the finals.
- Egypt’s only other meeting with COSAFA opposition ended in a 5-0 defeat to South Africa.
- Zambia will become the seventh different nation Egypt have faced at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Zambia: Key statistics
- WAFCON appearances: Four (2014, 2018, 2022, 2024).
- Best finish: Third place (2022).
- Making a fifth appearance at the finals.
- Competing at a fourth consecutive WAFCON.
- Have missed only one of the last six editions.
- Opening match record:
- Played 4
- Won 1
- Drawn 2
- Lost 1
- Have drawn their opening fixture at each of the last two tournaments:
- 0-0 vs Cameroon (2022)
- 2-2 vs Morocco (2024)
- Recorded their biggest opening-day victory with a 5-0 win over Equatorial Guinea in 2018.
- Lost their tournament debut 2-0 to hosts Namibia in 2014.
- Barbra Banda’s goal against Morocco after 58 seconds is the second-fastest in WAFCON history.
- Unbeaten in their last seven group-stage matches, recording four wins and three draws.
- Have lost just one of their last 10 group-stage games.
- Progressed beyond the group stage at each of the last two editions.
- Reached the semi-finals and finished third in 2022 to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
- Eliminated by eventual champions Nigeria in the quarterfinals at the last edition.
- Only one of Zambia’s 16 WAFCON matches has ended goalless.
- Racheal Kundananji is Zambia’s all-time leading scorer at the finals with six goals.
- Two of Kundananji’s three goals at the 2024 edition proved to be match winners.
- Qualified for Morocco by defeating Namibia 7-2 on aggregate, with Kundananji scoring four goals across the two legs.
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Coach watch
Swiss coach Nora Häuptle leads Zambia into a second successive WAFCON after guiding the Copper Queens to the quarterfinals at the previous edition.
The former Ghana coach has overseen Zambia’s emergence as one of Africa’s most consistent women’s national teams and will be aiming to build on the country’s historic third place finish in 2022.
Egypt: Key statistics
- WAFCON appearances: Two (1998, 2016).
- Best finish: Group stage.
- Return to the finals for the first time in 10 years.
- Making only their third appearance at the tournament.
- Eliminated in the group stage at both previous editions.
- Lost all three matches on their debut in 1998.
- Claimed their first ever WAFCON victory by defeating Zimbabwe 1-0 in 2016.
- Opening match record:
- Played 2
- Lost 2
- Lost 4-1 to DR Congo in 1998.
- Lost 2-0 to Cameroon in 2016.
- Overall WAFCON record:
- Played 6
- Won 1
- Lost 5
- Have never drawn a match at the finals.
- Have kept just one clean sheet in six WAFCON matches.
- Every Egypt match at the tournament has produced both goals and a winner.
Coach watch
Head coach Mohamed Kamal returns Egypt to the continental stage after a decade away from the competition.
Widely regarded as one of the pioneers of women’s football in Egypt, Kamal enjoyed remarkable domestic success with Wadi Degla, winning 14 Egyptian Women’s Premier League titles and seven Egyptian Women’s Cup crowns before taking charge of the national team in 2020.
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