By Dayo Awoniyi
Zambia’s star forward Racheal Kundananji says the Copper Queens are fully focused and unafraid ahead of their quarterfinal showdown against Nigeria at the 2024 CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON).
Zambia secured second place in Group A after a hard-fought 1–0 victory over DR Congo in their final group match, finishing level on seven points with hosts Morocco but behind on goal difference.
The result sets up a high-profile clash with Group B winners Nigeria on July 18 at the Stade Larbi Zaouli in Casablanca.
Despite missing out on top spot, Kundananji remains optimistic about her team’s chances.
“We wanted to top the group, but unfortunately, we didn’t score enough goals,” she told FAZ Media.
“That said, we’re not bothered by our position — we’re focused on the bigger goal.”
The 24-year-old striker, who plays for Bay FC in the U.S. National Women’s Soccer League, has been a standout performer in the tournament. S
he has scored in all three of Zambia’s group matches, becoming the first Zambian player to net in three consecutive WAFCON games.
Zambia will now face a stern test against nine-time champions Nigeria, who are yet to concede a goal in the tournament. The Copper Queens are aiming to reach their first-ever WAFCON semifinal.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
