By Harry Awurumibe, Editor, Abuja Bureau
Barely few hours now, the best of women’s football in Africa will kick off with top of the bill clash between the host Morocco and Zambia at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat by 9 pm local time, promising to be a tough duel for the two countries.
Although the Atlas Lionesses as the Moroccan senior women’s team is called have a whole nation cheering them on Saturday night, they will meet an experience Copper Queens squad parading tested professional players like captain and reigning CAF Best Player of the Year (Women), Barbra Banda (Orlando Pride, USA); Fridah Mukoma (Beijing Jingstan FC, China; Kabange Mupopo (Henan WFC, China, and Racheal Kundananji (Bay FC, USA), all attackers.
Also, Zambia boasts of strong defence where the likes of Martha Tembo and Lushomo Mweemba, who ply their trade with Hakkarigucu Spor of Turkey; Margaret Belemu (Red Arrows, Zambia), and Pauline Zulu (ZANACO Ladies Zambia), as well as goalkeeper Mwila Chishala Mufunte(Green Buffaloes) holding it down for the team.
The Copper Queens possess depth in the midfield with Racheal Nachula (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Grace Chanda (Orlando Pride, USA ); Prisca Chilufya (Orlando Pride, USA ), and Evarine Susan Katongo, providing support to both the attackers and defenders to Zambia a very strong side.
But the Zambian team is not in good shape if their recent outings are anything to rely upon as the Copper Queens have lost some matches in the recent including the June 3, 2025, 0-2 loss to South Africa in international friendly match.
Nora Häuptle who was appointed as Zambia’s head coach in January 2025, following a successful stint in charge of Ghana has been trying her best to make sure the players follow her team tactics and philosophy. The Swiss tactician and former international is known for her tactical discipline, defensive solidity, and preference for rapid transitional play which will come to fore tonight against Morocco.
However, Morocco’s head coach Jorge Vilda Rodríguez has selected a blend of domestic and overseas-based talents, including key players such as Rosella Ayane (Tottenham Hotspur), Ibtissam Jraidi (Al Ahli), and captain Ghizlane Chebbak (Levante Las Planas).
With charismatic goalkeeper Khadija Errmichi (AS FAR, Morocco); and defenders Hanane Ait El Haj (Valencia, Spain), Zineb Redouani (AS FAR), Sabah Seghir (FC Bale, Switzerland), and Aziza Rebbah (AS FAR), starting at the back, the Atlas Lionesses
Morocco’s midfielders Chebbak, Salma Bouguerch (Wydad Casablanca), Anissa Lahmari (Levante, Spain), Sarah Kassi (Le Havre, France), Imene El Ghazouani (Servette, Switzerland), and Sanaa Mssoudy (AS FAR), as well as forwards: Fatima Tagnaout (AS FAR), Sakina Ouzraoui Diki (Costa Adeje Tenerife, Spain), Rania Boutiebi (YLA Brugge, Belgium), Imane Saoud (Nantes, France), Jraidi,and Kenza Chapelle (Strasbourg, France) form a strong squad from which coach Vilda can pick players who can hurt their struggling Zambian opponents tonight.
Fans who will be at the stadium and millions watching on television and streaming platforms in Morocco, across Africa and beyond, will be hugely entertained as both teams are led by two top European tacticians in Jòrge Vilda and Nora Häuptle respectively.
With the opening match between hosts Morocco and Zambia at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, the 13th WAFCON has started in earnest as more matches will from tomorrow hold across the seven venues in Morocco.
Elsewhere, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, nine-time champions, and Africa’s top-ranked team will begin their campaign against Tunisia in Group B tomorrow evening in Casablanca. They are aiming to reclaim the title they last won in 2018.
Meanwhile, defending champions South Africa will open their title defense against Ghana in Group C on Monday, 7 July.
The 12 qualified countries have been drawn into three groups of four, with the top two teams from each group and the two best third-placed teams advancing to the quarter-finals.
Groups:
Group A: Morocco, Zambia, Senegal, DR Congo
Group B: Nigeria, Tunisia, Algeria, Botswana
Group C: South Africa, Ghana, Mali, Tanzania.
