HÄUPTLE & CISSÉ REACT AS COPPER QUEENS EDGE SENEGAL IN FIVE-GOAL WAFCON THRILLER

10.07.2025 | Football DNA ⚽️

The Copper Queens showed immense character and fighting spirit to come from behind and defeat Senegal 3-2 in a dramatic TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Group A clash at the El Bachir Stadium in Mohammedia. The result keeps Zambia’s hopes of a place in the quarterfinals firmly alive, moving them level on four points with Morocco at the top of the group.

It was a night of high drama as Senegal raced into an early lead through Nguenar Ndiaye in the 5th minute, capitalising on a slick assist from Meita Kande. But Zambia responded almost immediately, with captain Barbra Banda slotting home from a Racheal Kundananji pass to level the scores in the 12th minute.

Banda then thought she had a second just before halftime, only for the goal to be ruled out for offside. After the break, Zambia took control — Kundananji calmly fired them ahead before Banda grabbed her brace to make it 3-1, becoming the first Zambian to score in back-to-back WAFCON matches.

Senegal did pull one back via Ndiaye’s penalty, taking her tournament tally to six goals, but despite intense late pressure and 10 minutes of stoppage time, the Copper Queens held firm. Goalkeeper Ngambo Musole made a crucial late save from Sadigatou Diallo to secure a historic first-ever open-play win over Senegal at WAFCON.

Häuptle: "We showed love, unity and passion"

Copper Queens coach Nora Häuptle was full of praise for her team’s resilience and mental preparation.

“The team showed very good character against Senegal and we were able to adjust. We equalised and then also went up 2-1. I think even before the break we should have scored 3-1 or 4-1. There were enough chances on the pitch where we could have closed the game,” Häuptle reflected.

She explained how the team had vowed to approach the clash as a battle.

“We knew it was going to be a war, we were going to fight. We prepared the players mentally for that. We knew we were getting a lot of long balls. I think we were very stable with our two holding midfielders.”

The Swiss coach singled out the leadership of her senior players, with Banda even dropping back to help the defense.

“It was a lot of kukakata, we say in Zambia. Kukakata is to have this spirit, this grip, to burn and to defend. Barbra was sometimes even on centre back when we had a player out. We showed and proved our values on the pitch — love, unity, passion. Our identity was clearly shown, and in the end it was a very deserved victory from our team.”

Looking ahead to the decisive final group match against DR Congo, Häuptle urged her team to remain mature and focused.

“Now it’s to keep the work on. We always know that Team Zambia is good at scoring two or three goals. So we must add to the scoreline in front, and behind we put in the work,” she said.

“It’s all in our hands. We need to focus on ourselves and perform well in the third game.”

Cissé: "A very, very good team from Zambia"

Senegal coach Serigne Cissé was gracious in defeat, acknowledging Zambia’s quality and fighting spirit while lamenting individual errors that cost his team.

“We found ourselves in the competition after a bad game. We asked the players to try to attack and not wait for them. That’s what we did in the first minutes. We scored the first goal, then they equalised on an individual error. It happens in football,” he said.

“In the second half, as soon as we came back, they scored again on an individual error. We saw a very, very good team from Zambia.”

Cissé felt his team might have deserved at least a point but had no hesitation in congratulating the Copper Queens.

“I want to congratulate them for the efforts they made. They fought, they gave everything. I think overall, we deserved at least one point. But that’s football,” he said.

“We didn’t expect an easy match against Zambia, and we also don’t expect an easy match against Morocco. The girls showed very good things; we’re going to study the match, especially the second half.”

Eyes on the quarterfinals

With Zambia and Morocco level on four points, separated only by goal difference, the final round of Group A matches on Saturday will be decisive. Zambia takes on bottom-placed DR Congo, while Morocco faces Senegal. A win for the Copper Queens will guarantee a spot in the last eight, keeping alive dreams of continental glory.

“My team showed the desire, the will, and the passion to defend, to fight. I like what we did,” Häuptle concluded.