Nigeria and Zambia meet in the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations at 20:00, with both sides looking for a response after contrasting results in their opening matches.
Zambia’s Copper Queens began their campaign with a commanding 6-0 victory over Egypt, while Nigeria’s Super Falcons were beaten 3-2 by Malawi.
Those results leave both teams under pressure ahead of their meeting. Nigeria, the ten-time African champions, must recover from their defeat, while Zambia will aim to build on the momentum created by their emphatic win.
The official starting line-ups have now been confirmed for the match.
Nigeria will start with Chiamaka Nnadozie in goal. The Super Falcons’ XI also includes Faith Ohale, Asisat Oshoala, Christy Ucheibe, Jennifer Echegini, Esther Kanu, Deborah Abiodun, Tosin Demehin, captain Rasheedat Ajibade, Rofiat Imuran and Michelle Alozie.
Nigeria XI: Nnadozie (GK), Ohale, Oshoala, Ucheibe, Echegini, Kanu, Abiodun, Demehin, Ajibade (C), Imuran, Alozie.
Zambia have Ng’ambo Musole Nali as their goalkeeper. Captain Barbra Banda leads a side featuring Mweemba, Chileshe, Belemu, Chanda, Lungu, Kundananji, Nachula, Maluba and Chilufya.
Zambia XI: Nali (GK), Mweemba, Chileshe, Belemu, Chanda, Banda (C), Lungu, Kundananji, Nachula, Maluba, Chilufya.
The Super Falcons will therefore go into the fixture seeking to put their opening defeat behind them, while the Copper Queens will be attempting to follow up their six-goal performance against Egypt.
Nigeria’s loss to Malawi was a 3-2 result, meaning the team was unable to begin the tournament with points despite scoring twice. Zambia, by contrast, secured a clean-sheet victory in their first game and established themselves as the more impressive of the two sides in the opening round.
With the two teams now preparing to face each other, the confirmed line-ups set out the players selected for the decisive contest. Nnadozie and Nali will start in goal, while Ajibade and Banda will wear the captain’s armband for Nigeria and Zambia respectively.
The match begins at 20:00.