AFCON 2025
Zambia’s Copper Queens are quietly building momentum at the 2025 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and they may just be poised to deliver one of the tournament’s biggest shocks.
As they prepare to face nine-time champions Nigeria in the quarter-finals on Friday, July 18, the Southern African side enters the clash with confidence, form, and a game plan capable of unsettling the Super Falcons.
While Nigeria remain favourites on paper, there are at least three reasons why Zambia could pull off a stunning upset.
1. Formidable attacking duo: Banda & Kundananji
Zambia boasts two of African women’s football’s most clinical finishers in Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji. Both combine pace, power, and consistency: Banda has already netted multiple goals in group play, while Kundananji scored in all three group games and earned player‑of‑the‑match honours.
Their ability to punish deep defensive blocks and create chances on the break poses a severe threat to a Super Falcons side struggling for a reliable goalscorer.
2. Tactical maturity & rising confidence
Under coach Nora Häuptle, Zambia have grown tactically disciplined and mentally resilient. With five days of recovery and reflection, they head into the knockout stage rested, focused and strategic.
Häuptle’s team seem well-drilled on how to shut down Nigerian strengths while exploiting weaknesses.
3. Recent historical precedent & Nigeria’s attacking frailties
Nigeria may be nine-time WAFCON champions, but recent head‑to‑head results offer Zambia hope. The Copper Queens lost 6‑0 and 4‑0 to Nigeria in 2014 and 2018 respectively, but exacted revenge with a 1‑0 bronze‑medal win in Morocco in 2022.
More troubling for Nigeria: their group stage form in 2025 showed an inability to break down compact defences. They managed just one goal against Algeria and none against Botswana, exposing a worrying trend in front of goal.
