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WAFCON 2024: CAF honours Peter Rufai as Morocco and Zambia play out four goal stalemate
By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has honoured late Super Eagles goalkeeper, Peter Rufai on Saturday.
A minute silence was observed for the former captain of Nigeria’s senior men’s national team before the opening match of 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Rufai, a legendary figure in Nigerian football, passed away on Thursday following a lengthy illness.
Meanwhile, on the field, hosts Morocco were held to a 2-2 draw by a resilient Zambia side in the opening match of the 2024 TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) on Saturday night at the Stade Olympique in Rabat.
The visitors got off to a flying start when Barbra Banda fired home a low shot in the first minute after a swift counter-attack led by Margaret Belemu, stunning the home crowd.
Morocco responded quickly, and after Najat Badri was fouled in the box, Ibtissam Jraïdi converted the resulting penalty in the 12th minute to level the score.
Zambia reclaimed the lead in the 27th minute when Banda turned provider, threading a pass to Racheal Kundananji, who finished clinically past Moroccan keeper Khadija Er-Rmichi.
The hosts dominated the second half and were finally rewarded in the 87th minute when Ghizlane Chebbak unleashed a stunning strike from outside the box to secure a draw.
Despite late chances, neither team could find a winner. The result ends a 20-year streak of WAFCON hosts winning their opening match, dating back to 2004.
Both teams now turn their attention to the remaining Group A fixtures, with qualification still wide open.
