Zambia produced a stunning performance to begin their 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign, thrashing Egypt 6-0 in a one-sided Group C clash. Captain and all-time leading scorer Barbra Banda stole the show with four goals as the Copper Queens climbed to the top of the group ahead of Tuesday’s meeting between Nigeria and Malawi.
Zambia dominated from the opening whistle and Banda immediately caused problems for the Egyptian defence. The Orlando Pride striker burst into the penalty area on several occasions but found goalkeeper Maha Shehata in inspired form. Shehata first denied Banda from a cross before producing another save from a close-range effort after the striker found space at the near post.
Banda continued to threaten and saw another effort blocked in the 14th minute after meeting a cross from Lushomo Mweemba. Moments later, she was involved in a heavy collision with Egypt captain Shehata. Both players went down following the challenge, but while Banda quickly recovered, Shehata suffered a painful shoulder injury before bravely continuing.
The Copper Queens kept pushing and nearly broke the deadlock in the 23rd minute when Racheal Kundananji delivered an inviting cross that flew just over Banda as she stretched to connect inside the six-yard box.
Zambia finally got their reward after Amira Mohamed pulled Banda’s shirt inside the penalty area as the striker raced clear on goal. The referee pointed to the spot, and experienced forward Racheal Nachula calmly sent Shehata the wrong way to give Zambia a deserved 1-0 lead midway through the first half.
The incident also brought heartbreak for Egypt as Thoraya Ashraf suffered an injury and left the field on a stretcher in tears.
Zambia almost doubled their advantage immediately afterwards. Kundananji picked out Grace Chanda with a dangerous delivery before the Egyptian defence cleared the danger. The ball fell kindly to Kundananji, whose volley from the edge of the box sailed over the crossbar.
Egypt created little going forward, although Habiba Essam came close after challenging Hazel Nali in the air. Zambia quickly launched another counterattack through Chanda, who drove into the box before dragging her effort wide as the move lost momentum.
Banda continued to torment Egypt before the break, creating several more opportunities. However, she repeatedly found Shehata and her defenders standing firm. From another corner, Banda rose highest to head the ball across goal, hoping Prisca Chilufya could apply the finishing touch, but Ali Mahira and Christina Salama threw themselves into desperate blocks to protect their goalkeeper.
Despite leading by only one goal at half-time, Zambia remained in complete control. Their patience paid off again after the break when VAR intervened to review another clear handball by Amira Mohamed inside the penalty area.
The referee awarded Zambia a second penalty, and Banda made no mistake from the spot, blasting home to double her side’s advantage at the hour mark.
The captain struck again almost immediately. Left completely unmarked inside the area, Banda met Chilufya’s cross with a diving header that bounced into the net to make it 3-0 and put Zambia firmly in command.
Grace Chanda continued to trouble the Egyptian defence with several dangerous runs, while substitute Eneless Phiri narrowly missed with a volley after entering the match. Shehata, despite battling injuries, produced another outstanding save to push Nachula’s looping effort away before denying Phiri from close range moments later.
Banda eventually completed her hat-trick after another Zambia corner caused confusion inside the Egyptian box. Evarine Katongo headed the loose ball back across goal, and Banda reacted quickest at the far post, smashing her finish into the net to make it 4-0.
Zambia refused to ease off. Banda then turned provider, setting up Phiri, who unleashed a powerful strike from the edge of the area to score Zambia’s fifth goal.
The captain completed a remarkable four-goal display late in the game. Kundananji delivered a precise cut-back into the six-yard box, where Banda timed her run perfectly before calmly guiding the ball between the goalkeeper and the near post to seal a comprehensive 6-0 victory.
The emphatic triumph is Zambia’s biggest-ever win at a Women’s Africa Cup of Nations tournament. The Copper Queens, who finished third in 2022 and reached the quarter-finals in 2024, made an ideal start to another title challenge.
The convincing scoreline also handed Zambia a significant goal difference boost, which could prove vital in a competitive Group C that also features defending champions Nigeria and Malawi.
