The Copper Queens paid a fitting tribute to their late former head coach Bruce Mwape with a commanding 6-0 victory over Egypt in their opening 2026 TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group C match on Tuesday night.
Captain Barbra Banda delivered a sensational performance, scoring four goals as Zambia produced one of their most dominant displays on the continental stage to move to the top of Group C.
Copper Queens Dominate from the Start
Zambia took control from the opening whistle, pinning Egypt deep inside their own half with wave after wave of attacking football.
The Copper Queens created several clear-cut opportunities before finally breaking the deadlock in the 25th minute when Racheal Nachula calmly converted from the penalty spot after Banda had been fouled inside the box.
The goal capped an impressive first-half display in which Zambia controlled possession and repeatedly stretched the Egyptian defence.
Banda Takes Centre Stage
The Copper Queens stepped up another gear after the break.
Banda doubled Zambia’s lead from the penalty spot after a VAR review adjudged an Egyptian defender to have handled the ball inside the area.
Just three minutes later, the Orlando Pride forward rose highest to head home a perfectly delivered cross from Prisca Chilufya, making it 3-0.
The skipper completed her hat-trick shortly afterwards by reacting quickest to a loose ball inside the penalty area before sealing her remarkable night in stoppage time, finishing expertly from Racheal Kundananji’s inviting cut-back to register her fourth goal of the match.
Dream Debut for Eneless Phiri
It was also a memorable evening for Eneless Phiri, who marked her WAFCON debut with a stunning goal.
The youngster unleashed a superb strike from the edge of the penalty area to score Zambia’s fifth goal and announce herself on the continental stage in style.
Perfect Tribute to Bruce Mwape
The emphatic victory carried added emotional significance for the Copper Queens as they honoured the memory of former head coach Bruce Mwape, whose contribution to the growth of women’s football in Zambia helped transform the team into one of Africa’s leading sides.
The six-goal triumph served as a fitting tribute to a coach whose legacy continues to inspire the current generation of Copper Queens.
Strong Start to WAFCON Campaign
The comprehensive victory gives Zambia the perfect start to their quest for continental glory and sends an early warning to the rest of the tournament.
With Barbra Banda in devastating form and the team displaying confidence, creativity and clinical finishing, the Copper Queens have firmly established themselves as one of the favourites to progress from Group C.
Conclusion
Zambia could hardly have wished for a better start to the 2026 WAFCON.
Inspired by captain Barbra Banda’s four-goal masterclass and motivated by the memory of Bruce Mwape, the Copper Queens produced a performance full of quality and purpose as they opened their campaign with a statement 6-0 victory over Egypt.
