Zambia reignited their campaign at the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations with a gripping 3-2 win over Senegal in a Group A showdown on Wednesday at Stade El Bachir in Mohammedia.
The match served up a spectacle of attacking football, with both sides exchanging blows in a pulsating contest filled with skill, drama, and standout individual moments.
The Copper Queens showed grit and resilience, shaking off an early deficit to claim maximum points in a crucial fixture.
Coming off a 2-2 draw in their opener against tournament hosts Morocco, Zambia entered the encounter knowing only victory would keep them firmly in the race for the knockout stages. And though they were pushed to the brink, they emerged victorious.
Senegal drew first blood inside five minutes, taking the lead with their first real opportunity.
Nguenar Ndiaye, who had impressed in their dominant win over DR Congo, latched onto a clever pass from Méta Kandé and finished calmly past goalkeeper Ng’ambo Musole, momentarily silencing the Zambian faithful.
But Zambia hit back quickly. Skipper Barbra Banda leveled the score in the 12th minute with a stunning strike, rifling the ball into the top corner after a perfectly weighted pass from Racheal Kundananji.
The end-to-end pace continued into the second half. Just six minutes after the restart, Kundananji turned goal-scorer, showing composure under pressure to put Zambia 2-1 up with a confident finish in the box.
Zambia stretched their lead further in the 73rd minute as Banda bagged her second of the match.
The captain capitalized on a loose ball from a corner kick, reacting quickly to fire home from close range.
Senegal, refusing to back down, were handed a lifeline when Ndiaye was fouled in the area. She stepped up and converted the penalty herself, reducing the deficit to 3-2 with just over ten minutes left on the clock.
The closing stages were tense, with the Lionesses throwing everything forward in search of an equalizer.
A series of corners and near misses kept Zambian fans on edge, but Musole stood tall in goal, making critical saves to protect her side’s lead.
The win propels Zambia to four points in Group A and keeps their semi-final ambitions alive. For Senegal, who had hoped to seal early qualification, it’s back to the drawing board ahead of their final group clash.
This performance was more than just three points, it was a bold statement from the Copper Queens, a side brimming with talent and intent on challenging for continental glory.
