The ultimate WAFCON 2026 preview: Teams, players and storylines to watch this year

The stage is set in Morocco for the 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), a tournament that promises to be a watershed moment for women's football across the continent. For Zambia, the stakes are particularly high as the Copper Queens, under the astute guidance of coach Nora Häuptle, aim to etch their name into history by clinching their inaugural WAFCON title. Having secured a third-place finish in 2022 and building on their growing international experience, the Zambian squad is brimming with talent and ambition, ready to challenge the established powerhouses of African women's football. Zambia's journey to WAFCON 2026 saw them comfortably overcome Namibia with a commanding 7-2 aggregate victory in the qualifiers, a testament to their offensive prowess and tactical discipline. The team's attacking unit, spearheaded by the prolific Barbra Banda, remains one of the most feared in Africa, with Rachel Kundananji also proving instrumental in their qualification efforts. The Copper Queens have been drawn into a formidable Group C, where they will face ten-time champions Nigeria, alongside Egypt and regional rivals Malawi. This challenging group ensures that every match will be a stern test of their championship credentials, with their opening fixture against Egypt being particularly pivotal. Head coach Nora Häuptle, a UEFA Pro Licence holder with a Master's degree in Sports Science, has been credited with instilling greater tactical structure and resilience within the team since taking over in 2025. Her leadership, combined with the individual brilliance of players like Banda and Kundananji, has fostered a belief that Zambia can indeed go all the way. The team's recent preparatory matches, including a narrow 1-0 defeat and a 1-1 draw against Algeria, have provided valuable insights and fine-tuning opportunities as they adapt to the competitive environment. The tournament, hosted by Morocco for the third consecutive time, will feature 16 teams for the first time