WAFCON 2026: Zambia become first team to qualify
Zambia are the first nation to book their place at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2026.
The Copper Queens sealed qualification with a 4-2 win in the first leg and a controlled 3-0 victory in the return match against Namibia, underlining their growing stature and signalling they will be a side to watch on the continent.
Quarter-finalists at the last edition, Zambia built on that experience to forge a balanced, resilient unit capable of handling pressure on big occasions.
Even without star forward Barbra Banda, Nora Haüptle’s squad found solutions through the front pairing of Rachael Kundananji and Rachel Nachula, who delivered most of the goals and demonstrated a sharp understanding in attack.
Against Namibia, the duo embodied the creativity and cutting edge of a Zambian team ready to challenge Africa’s best.
The two-legged tie told the story of a complete side: an end-to-end first leg in which Zambia imposed their tempo and attacking flair, followed by a tactically assured second leg where chances were finished with calm precision.
The Copper Queens showed they can combine intensity with game intelligence—an asset for the tougher tests ahead.
With qualification secured, Zambia’s ambitions are clear: go beyond the quarter-finals and target the podium at next March’s tournament in Morocco.
The focus now is on confirmation. With tactical discipline behind them and an increasingly complementary forward line, the Copper Queens have the tools to surprise higher-ranked opponents and leave a lasting mark on this AFCON Women’s edition.
Road to the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, Morocco 2026 (Qualifiers)
First Round
Bye
Second Round
First leg: beat Namibia 4–2
Second leg: beat Namibia 3–0
Aggregate: Zambia advance 7–2
Team top scorer in qualifying: Rachael Kundananji, 4 goals
Zambia at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Women’s Cup of Nations
First appearance: 2014
Appearances: 5 (2014, 2018, 2022, 2024 & 2026)
Best finish: Third place (2022)
Head coach: Nora Häuptle
Captain: Barbra Banda