With one of the continent's most feared attacking units and new head coach Nora Häuptle at the helm, the Copper Queens will be aiming to lift the Women's AFCON trophy for the first
The report indicates that after finishing third in 2022 and falling short of expectations at the 2024 edition, Zambia head to the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026 determined to establish themselves among Africa’s elite.
It further notes that with one of the continent’s most feared attacking units and new head coach Nora Häuptle at the helm, the Copper Queens will be aiming to lift the Women’s AFCON trophy for the first time.
As one of Africa’s six highest-ranked teams in the FIFA Women’s World Ranking, Zambia entered the qualifiers in the second round.
The Copper Queens comfortably overcame Namibia, winning 4-2 in the first leg in Soweto before completing the tie with a 3-0 victory in Ndola to seal a 7-2 aggregate triumph.
Racheal Kundananji starred throughout the tie, scoring a hat-trick in the opening leg before adding another goal in the return match as Zambia secured qualification in convincing fashion.
Nora Häuptle begins her first full TotalEnergies CAF Women’s AFCON campaign as head coach of Zambia after taking charge of the Copper Queens in 2025.
The Swiss coach arrived with an impressive reputation, having previously led Ghana’s women’s national team and played a key role in their qualification for Morocco 2026.
A UEFA Pro Licence holder, Häuptle also holds a Master’s degree in Sports Science from the University of Bern and has accumulated coaching experience in both Switzerland and Germany.
Her arrival has added further tactical structure to a Zambian side already blessed with attacking quality and growing international experience.
Barbra Banda remains one of the biggest names in African women’s football.
The Orlando Pride striker has established herself among the leading forwards in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and returns to international competition after recovering from a hip injury suffered late last year.
Powerful, direct and clinical in front of goal, Banda will once again spearhead Zambia’s attack as the Copper Queens pursue their first continental title.
Zambia have become one of the fastest-rising teams in African women’s football.
Their breakthrough came in 2022 when they secured a historic third-place finish after defeating Nigeria in the bronze-medal match to claim their first Women’s AFCON podium finish.
