The Zambia Women’s National Team, popularly known as the Copper Queens, announced themselves as serious contenders for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a stunning 6-0 victory over Egypt in their Group C opener in Rabat, Morocco. The emphatic result was one of the biggest wins of the tournament so far and highlighted Zambia’s attacking quality from the opening whistle until the final moments. Captain Barbra Banda delivered a sensational individual performance by scoring four goals, while experienced defender Racheal Nachula and debutant Eneless Phiri also found the back of the net. The dominant display lifted Zambia to the top of Group C on goal difference after Malawi also opened their campaign with a victory over Nigeria. The convincing scoreline sent a strong message to the rest of the competition that the Copper Queens have arrived at WAFCON 2026 with genuine ambitions of challenging for the continental title.
Zambia dictated the pace of the match from the beginning and repeatedly created dangerous opportunities against an Egyptian side that struggled to contain the relentless attacking movement of the Copper Queens. Barbra Banda looked threatening early in the contest and forced Egypt goalkeeper Maha Shehata into two important saves before Zambia finally earned the breakthrough. The opening goal arrived in the 25th minute after Egyptian defender Amira Mohamed brought down Banda inside the penalty area. Veteran defender Racheal Nachula confidently stepped up to convert the penalty and give Zambia a deserved lead after sustained pressure. The goal rewarded Zambia’s positive approach and gave the team even greater confidence as they continued to dominate possession and create chances throughout the remainder of the first half.
The Copper Queens maintained their intensity after the break and quickly increased their advantage with another penalty following a VAR review. Officials awarded Zambia a second spot kick after Mohamed handled the ball inside the penalty area, and Banda made no mistake from the penalty spot to score her first goal of the evening. Only three minutes later, the captain struck again by rising above the Egyptian defence to head home a perfectly delivered cross from Prisca Chilufya. Egypt struggled to cope with Zambia’s pace, movement and physical presence, allowing the Copper Queens to control every area of the pitch. As the match progressed, Zambia continued to press forward instead of protecting their lead, demonstrating the attacking philosophy that has become one of the team’s biggest strengths.
Banda completed her memorable hat-trick late in the match after reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area, once again showing her outstanding striker’s instinct. The celebrations continued when debutant Eneless Phiri marked her first appearance for the Copper Queens with a superb strike from outside the penalty area that beat the goalkeeper and delighted the Zambian supporters. Even with the result already beyond doubt, Zambia refused to ease their pressure and continued searching for more goals. Their determination was rewarded in stoppage time when Racheal Kundananji provided a precise cut-back that Banda converted for her fourth goal of the night. The remarkable performance underlined why Banda remains one of Africa’s most feared forwards and one of the leading stars in women’s football.
After the impressive victory, Zambia head coach Nora Häuptle praised her players for maintaining their concentration and discipline throughout the entire match. Speaking during the post-match press conference, Häuptle explained that she had challenged her squad to embrace two Bemba expressions that have become central to her coaching philosophy. She revealed that the team focused on “akalata” and “umupampamina,” describing them as resilience and aggressiveness that should be displayed until the final whistle. Häuptle also emphasized that the squad deliberately shifted its attention away from social media and outside distractions to remain fully committed to their objectives. According to the coach, the players demonstrated that mentality by continuing to attack and score goals even in the closing minutes despite already holding a comfortable lead.
Captain Barbra Banda shared the excitement of the entire squad after the commanding victory but made it clear that the team would not become distracted by one successful performance. She described the result as an encouraging start to Zambia’s campaign while stressing that every match at WAFCON presents a new challenge. Banda said the players were already turning their attention to their next fixture because the team intends to approach the tournament one game at a time. She also revealed that the celebration following her first goal was dedicated to former coach Bruce Mwape as a tribute to the important role he played in the development of the Copper Queens. Banda added that the squad remains united and continues to appreciate the work that helped establish Zambia as one of Africa’s leading women’s football nations.
The impressive victory has placed Zambia in an excellent position ahead of what promises to be a fascinating Group C campaign. The Copper Queens will now prepare for a highly anticipated clash against Nigeria on Saturday, August 1, 2026, after the Super Falcons suffered a surprising defeat to Malawi in Tuesday night’s later fixture. That unexpected result has made the group even more competitive and increased the importance of every remaining match. Zambia will enter the contest full of confidence after producing one of the standout performances of the tournament’s opening round, while Nigeria will be under pressure to respond after their disappointing start. If the Copper Queens can reproduce the same discipline, attacking quality and relentless intensity they displayed against Egypt, they will strengthen their hopes of advancing deep into WAFCON 2026 and confirming themselves as one of the tournament’s strongest title contenders.