Nigeria and Zambia face off in one of the standout fixtures of the WAFCON 2026 group stage when they meet at the Al Madina Stadium in Rabat on Saturday.

The two sides head into the contest on the back of contrasting opening results. The Super Falcons were beaten 3-2 by Malawi, while the Copper Queens began their campaign with an emphatic 6-0 win over Egypt.

With qualification hopes on the line, the Super Falcons will be eager to respond after their opening defeat, while the Copper Queens have the opportunity to strengthen their position in Group C and move closer to the knockout rounds.

Nigeria Under Pressure

Nigeria have overcome difficult starts at previous editions of the tournament and will be hoping their experience can help them navigate another challenging situation.

The Super Falcons lost their opening matches at the 2018 and 2022 editions but responded strongly, winning the title in 2018 and reaching the semi-finals in 2022, with both runs securing qualification for the FIFA Women’s World Cup. They will be aiming for a similar turnaround this time, but defeat to Zambia, combined with a Malawi victory over Egypt, would see the defending champions eliminated at the group stage for the first time in their history and miss out on the global tournament for the first time.

2024 WAFCON MVP and captain Rasheedat Ajibade, who scored in the opening game, will once again be key to Nigeria’s hopes, with the ten-time African champions counting on their tournament pedigree and experienced players as they look to keep their campaign alive

Copper Queens Rising

Zambia have emerged as one of Africa’s fastest-growing women’s football nations in recent years, with their progress highlighted by a first-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup appearance in 2023.

The Copper Queens secured their first WAFCON medal in 2022 and…