12/07/2025
COPPER QUEENS EYE STRONG FINISH AS DR CONGO AWAITS IN GROUP A FINALE
The Copper Queens will be looking to seal their place in the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024 when they face the Democratic Republic of Congo in their final Group A fixture on Saturday night.
Zambia and DR Congo meet for the first time in the history of the WAFCON tournament with contrasting motivations.
While the Copper Queens are on the cusp of qualifying for the knockout stages, DR Congo are playing for pride, having already been eliminated following back-to-back losses to Morocco and Senegal.
Nora Häuptle’s side heads into this fixture on the back of a 3-2 comeback victory over Senegal, a win which marked the first time Zambia has conceded first and gone on to win a WAFCON match.
Captain Barbra Banda was once again the catalyst, scoring twice to take her tournament tally to three goals. Meanwhile, Racheal Kundananji added a goal and an assist in what was her most productive WAFCON performance to date.
Kundananji now boasts five goals in WAFCON history, adding to her three from the 2018 edition.
Zambia remains unbeaten in the group phase for a sixth consecutive WAFCON match (three wins, three draws) and will be eager to extend that streak.
The team has never lost its final group game at the tournament, and a win or draw tonight will secure a spot in the quarterfinals.
A victory, combined with a draw between Morocco and Senegal, would see the Copper Queens top the group.
However, Häuptle will be without midfielder Grace Chanda, who is suspended for the clash after picking up her second yellow card of the tournament against Senegal.
DR Congo, meanwhile, are yet to win a match at this year’s tournament and have managed two shots on target in their last match against Morocco which they scored from it.