WAFCON 2026: Zambia go top of Group C after Barbra Banda masterclass

Zambia captain Barbra Banda produced one of the most memorable individual performances of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations as she scored four g jin88bet.one jin88bet.one jin88 jin88bet.one bet.one jin88bet.one jin88bet.one ji jin88bet.one n88bet.one jin88bet.one jin88b jin88bet.one et.one oals and set up jin88bet.one another in a commanding 6-0 victory over Egypt in their Group C opener in Rabat jin88bet.one jin88bet.one jin88bet.one jin88bet.one ji jin88bet.one jin88bet.one n88bet.one jin88bet.one jin88bet.one jin88bet.one jin88bet.one jin88bet.one .

The ak168app.baby a ak168app.baby k168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ak168app.baby Copper Queens began their campaign in emphat ak168app.baby ak168app.baby ic fashion at the Olympic Stadium, with Banda playing a d ak168app.baby irect r ak168app.bab ak168app.baby y ole in five of the six goals to send ak168 ak168app.club ak168app.baby ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club app.club Zambia to the top of the group after the opening round of fixtures.

The result also became the biggest ak168app.club winning margin of the to ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club ak168app.club urnament so far, eclipsing hosts Morocco’s 4-0 victory over Kenya earlier ak168app.club ak168app.club ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ak168app.club ks168app.s ks168app.site ite ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site in the competition. ks168app.site

For Zambia, it was an ide ks168app.site al start to ks168app.site a campaign in which they hope to challenge for continental honours. For Egypt, however, the heavy defeat leaves them with significant work to do ahead of their remaining group m ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ks168app.site ic ks168app.site 88 ks168app.site ic88 ic88 atches.

The Copper Queens wasted little time in asserting themselves.

Banda nearly opened the scoring after only eight minutes, but E ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic ic88 88 ic88 ic88 gypt’s goalkeeper raced off her line to deny the striker before she could finish.

Egypt briefly threatened six minutes later when N ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic ic88 88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 adin Ghazy attempted an effort from distance, but goalkeeper Na ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 tasha Nal ic88 i was al ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ert to collect comfor ic88 tably.
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Zambia ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 continued to ic88 ic88 dominate posses ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 sion and territory, crea ic88 ting another opportunity in the 22nd minute when Racheal Kundananji’s header drifted narrowly wide with the goalkeeper already beaten.

Their susta ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 ic88 lr88 ic88 ic88 ic88 lr88 lr88 ic88 ic88 lr88 lr88 lr88 ic88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 ic88 ic88 ic88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 ined pressure was eventually rewarded after Banda was brought down inside the penalty area.

Veteran forward Racheal Nachula stepped forward to convert the penalty calmly, giving Zambia a deserved 1-0 lead before half-tim lr88 lr88 e.

Although the Copper Queens lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 held only a one-goal advantage lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 at the break, they emerged after the restart with even greater inten lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 sity.

M lr88 argaret Belemu ne lr88 arly do lr88 lr88 ubled the lead in the 53rd minute after creating space inside the area, but her effort was well saved.

Five minut lr88 es la lr88 ter, Zambia were awarded another penalty following a VAR review after Pr lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr lr88 88 lr88 lr88 lr88 l lr88 r88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 lr88 isca Chilufya’s cross struck the hand of Amira Mohamed.

This time Banda took responsibility from the spot, confidently sending goalkeeper Maha Shehata the wrong way to score her fir lr88 st goal of the evening.

The Zambi lr88 lr88 lr88 op88 op88 op88 lr88 lr88 lr88 a captai lr88 lr88 op88 op88 op88 lr88 lr88 op88 op88 op88 op88 op88 op88 lr88 lr88 op88 n was far from finished.

Just three minutes later, she cap op88 italised on another delivery from Chilufya to head home Zambia’s third goal, leaving Egypt s op88 op88 trugg op88 ling to contain the African champions’ at op88 op88 op88 si88 si88 si88 si88 si88 tacking quality.

Banda comp op88 leted her hat-trick op88 in the cl si88 si88 op88 osin si88 si88 si88 si88 g stages after Egypt failed to clear a scramble inside the pen si88 op88 alty area. The loose ball fell kindly to the fo si88 rward, who reacted quickest to volley into the net.

She si88 si si88 88 si88 si88 si88 si88 then turned pr si88 si88 88v si88 si88 ovider, displaying excellent awareness t 88v o set up subs 88v titute Eneless Phiri, who finished clinically to make it 5-0.

There was still t 88v 88v 88v 88v im 88v e for Banda to complete a remarkable night, adding her fourth goal in stoppage tim 88v e with a composed finish that capped an outstanding display.

The 26-year-old Orlando Pride forward demonstrated why she is regarded as on 88v 88v 88v 88v 88v 88v 88v 88v 88v e 88v 88v 88v of Africa’s 88v 88v leading football 88v ers, producing a p SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN erformanc SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN e that immedia SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN tely lifted her to the top of the SEXXXXX-VN tournament’s scoring charts SEXXXXX-VN .

Victory SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN SEXXXXX-VN gives Zambia three points and an early lead in Group C, wh SEXXXXX-VN SEX SEXXXXX-VN XXXX-VN ich also features defending champions Nigeria and SEXXXXX-VN tournament debutants Malawi.

Mubarak Haruna

Mubarak Haruna is an emerging force in African football journalism, recognised for his speed, accuracy and ability to break major stories. He specialises in breaking news, match coverage and multimedia storytelling across radio, television and digital platforms.He holds a degree in Journalism from the Ghana Institute of Journalism and has developed his craft within some of Ghana’s leading media organisations. Mubarak has worked with the Multimedia Group, where he served as a sports radio and television presenter at Joy FM, while also contributing as a writer for Myjoyonline.com.Known for his sharp instincts and ability to deliver timely football stories, Mubarak has gained growing recognition for his impactful reporting and dedication to the profession.He is currently the Deputy Managing Editor of African.Football, where he plays a key role in driving editorial operations, breaking major stories and supporting the platform’s mission to deliver fast, reliable and high-quality African football content to a global audience.

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