If anyone doubted whether Zambia meant business at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Barbra Banda just put the entire continent on absolute notice.
The Copper Queens kicked off their Group C campaign in Rabat with an absolute statement, steamrolling past a helpless Egypt side 6-0. It was the biggest win of the tournament so far, and frankly, it could have been even worse for the Pharaohs.
Things actually started relatively tight. Egypt held their ground in the opening stages, but Zambia’s relentless pressure eventually broke the barrier on 25 minutes. Banda was brought down inside the box, allowing 40-year-old veteran Racheal Nachula to step up and calmly slot home from the spot to make it 1-0 heading into halftime.
Then came the second-half storm.
Once the floodgates opened on the hour mark, Banda completely took over the show. After Egypt’s Amira Mohamed was called for a handball following a VAR check, the Orlando Pride superstar stepped up and converted Zambia’s second penalty. Just three minutes later, she rose highest to head home a pinpoint cross from Prisca Chilufya, putting the match completely out of reach at 3-0.
Banda wasn’t done yet. In the 86th minute, she smashed home a crisp volley after Egypt failed to clear a corner to complete her hat-trick. She then turned provider to set up substitute Eneless Phiri for a clinical fifth goal in stoppage time, before putting the final exclamation mark on her personal masterclass by netting her fourth goal seconds before the final whistle.
Taking all three points and a massive +6 goal difference, Zambia jump straight to the top of Group C ahead of heavyweights Nigeria and Malawi. If Banda keeps firing like this, the rest of Africa has a serious problem on its hands.
