Zambia’s Copper Queens rout Egypt 6-0 in WAFCON opener

Rabat, Morocco – The Zambian Women's National Football Team, affectionately known as the Copper Queens, made an emphatic statement in their opening match of the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Tuesday, routing Egypt 6-0 in a Group C encounter. The commanding performance, highlighted by a four-goal haul from captain Barbra Banda, has immediately positioned Zambia as a formidable contender in the continental showpiece. The match, held at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, saw the Copper Queens assert their dominance from the outset, controlling 62% of possession and registering 34 attempts on goal. The breakthrough came in the 25th minute when Racheal Nachula converted a penalty after Barbra Banda was fouled inside the box. Despite their early lead, Zambia went into halftime with a narrow 1-0 advantage, with Egypt's goalkeeper Maha Shehata making crucial saves to keep her side in contention. The second half, however, witnessed an explosive display from the Copper Queens, particularly from their talismanic captain, Barbra Banda. Banda, who plays for Orlando Pride in the United States, converted her first penalty in the 60th minute, followed by another goal just three minutes later. She completed her hat-trick in the 87th minute with a composed volley and then capped off her individual brilliance with a fourth goal in the 96th minute, securing a personal triumph and cementing her place at the top of the tournament's scoring charts. Substitute Eneless Phiri also contributed to the rout, adding Zambia's fifth goal in stoppage time after an assist from Banda. This 6-0 victory marks Zambia's biggest ever win in a WAFCON tournament and an ideal start for Swiss coach Nora Häuptle's side, who entered the competition among the teams expected to challenge for the title. The Copper Queens' impressive form builds on their recent successes, including a third-place finish in the 2022 WAFCON and reaching the quarter-finals in the 2024 edition, which also saw them qualify