Morocco and Zambia played out a thrilling 2-2 draw in their opening Group A clash at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat.
The match, filled with pace and drama from the first whistle, saw Zambia stun the hosts with an early goal inside the first minute. Barbra Banda converted 58 seconds into the match from a Margret Belemu cross to silence the home crowd and give the Copper Queens a dream start.
Morocco responded with composure and earned an equalizer in the 12th minute when Ibtissam Jraidi coolly converted a penalty after Grace Chanda committed a foul in the box on Najat Badri. Initially, referee Shamirah Nabadda from Uganda turned down appeals for a foul. But she was persuaded to review the decision by the VAR and retrospectively awarded Morocco a deserved spot kick. However, Zambia regained their lead midway through the first half, with Banda once again playing provider—this time setting up Racheal Kundananji in the 27th minute to make it 2-1.
Both sides showed moments of aggression, with Zambia’s Grace Chanda and Prisca Chilufya picking up yellow cards before and after the break, respectively. The first half ended 2-1.
Fearing a possible red card, Zambia’s coach Nora Häuptle made changes subbing off Chilufya for Fridah Mukoma in the 67th minute while Chanda was replaced by Kabange Mupopo in the 78th minute.
Jorge Vilda also made several tactical changes in the second half, bringing on fresh legs including Lahmari and Nakkach in the final minutes to pile pressure on the Zambian defense.
Despite trailing for most of the game, Morocco dominated possession with 69% of the ball and kept pressing for an equalizer.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 87th minute when Ghizlane Chebbak found the back of the net with an excellently taken kick on the edges of the box to top left corner, giving Ngambo Musole no chance as she leveled the score at 2-2.
The Copper Queens’ next game will be on Wednesday against Senegal while Morocco will face DR Congo.
