10/07/2025
Kundananji Prioritises Teamwork as Copper Queens Sink Senegal
[By John Mbabala 10th July 2025.]
Bay FC striker Racheal Kundananji says her focus is on helping the Copper Queens succeed as a team, not chasing individual glory, following Zambia’s 3-2 win over Senegal at the ongoing 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
Speaking after the match, Kundananji revealed a personal decision to shift her mindset and put the team above herself.
“I promised myself to say I’m not going to be an individual player,” she said. “This is not the time to make my name; my name is already out there, so right now is to help my team and be there as a team player—and that’s what I’m doing.”
Her performance is backing that promise. Kundananji has scored two goals and assisted once in the tournament so far. Captain Barbra Banda, who continues to lead from the front, has netted three times and also assisted Kundananji once.
Together, the duo has been involved in all five goals scored by Zambia across the opening two group games. Their chemistry on the pitch has shown clear improvement compared to past tournaments, where they often played in isolation and struggled to combine effectively.
Zambia now sit on four points in Group A and will face neighbours DR Congo in their final group match. A draw in that encounter would be enough to guarantee a place in the knockout stage for coach Nora Häuptle’s side.
With Kundananji and Banda finally striking the right balance between flair and teamwork, the Copper Queens are emerging as one of the most dangerous sides in the tournament.