Zambia Eye Nigeria Scalp As Copper Queens Target Second Straight WAFCON Win
Zambia’s Copper Queens will face defending champions Nigeria in a crucial Group C clash at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026, with a second consecutive victory potentially moving the Zambians closer to the quarterfinals.
The Copper Queens go into the match full of confidence after their impressive 6-0 demolition of Egypt in their opening game, while Nigeria are under pressure following a shock 3-2 defeat to debutants Malawi.
Zambia head coach Nora Häuptle expects a strong response from the Super Falcons but insists her team will focus on executing its own game plan.
“Nigeria will come with everything they have. They need to win to stay alive in this tournament,” Häuptle said.
The Swiss coach dismissed the possibility of Zambia playing for a draw, stressing that the Copper Queens will continue to attack for victory.
“Zambia never plays for a draw. It’s not in our DNA. We always play to win,” she said.
Häuptle also believes Zambia have grown significantly since their 5-0 quarterfinal defeat to Nigeria at the previous WAFCON. She says the team has become more tactically flexible and gained valuable experience against highly ranked opponents.
Captain Rachael Kundananji also acknowledged the quality of Nigeria but believes Zambia are ready for the challenge.
“We are ready. We know it won’t be an easy match. We must be mentally and physically ready,” Kundananji said.
She added that beating Nigeria would be significant not only for the team but for the entire country.
The Copper Queens will also be hoping that Barbra Banda continues her remarkable scoring form. Banda scored a hat-trick against Egypt, marking the fourth time she has scored at least three goals in a major international tournament match.
Nigeria, meanwhile, know that defeat would leave their title defence hanging by a thread. Head coach Justine Madugu says the Super Falcons have moved on from their loss to Malawi and are determined to respond against Zambia.
“It’s win or nothing. We know perfectly well what’s at stake. We want to be at the World Cup and we will do everything to correct the mistakes of the first match,” Madugu said.
Nigeria have also analyzed Zambia’s strengths and prepared specifically for the Copper Queens, with defensive transitions identified as a key area to address.
The stakes are therefore high for both sides. Zambia can take a major step towards the knockout stages with another win, while Nigeria must secure maximum points to keep their hopes of defending the WAFCON title alive.
