WAFCON Kundananji warns Nigeria clash could seal Zambia’s fate

Zambia’s Copper Queens forward Rachael Kundananji told reporters that today’s Saturday clash against Nigeria’s Super Falcons will decide the fate of both teams in this year’s Women’s African Cup of Nations in Morocco, underscoring the high stakes of the group stage.

“The moral is high, the team is ready,” Kundananji said. She added, “We understand it’s not an easy task, it’s the game that will determine both team’s fate, it’s the game that will make everything easy or tough.”

The Super Falcons are defending champions but suffered a shock 3-2 loss to debutants Malawi in Group C. The upcoming match is their second group encounter.

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Zambia opened the tournament with a dominant 6-0 victory over Egypt, boosting confidence ahead of the Nigeria clash. Their performance has set a high benchmark for the group stage.

Head coach Nora Häuptle said her side will not aim for a draw, stating “We never play for a draw, it’s not in our nature, we always chase for the lead in games.” She highlighted the team’s growth after facing top‑20 opposition in a series of FIFA friendlies.

This will be the fifth WAFCON meeting between the Super Falcons and Zambia, with Nigeria holding three wins and one loss in the previous four encounters. Nigeria won 6-0 in the 2014 group stage in Namibia and 4-0 in Ghana in 2018. Zambia’s sole triumph came with a 1-0 win in the 2022 third‑place match, but Nigeria answered with a 5-0 quarter‑final victory in 2024.

The Saturday showdown will therefore determine which side progresses further in the Women’s African Cup of Nations.