The Copper Queens were quarter-finalists in the 2025 WAFCON
Zambia will qualify for Brazi 2027 if they make it to the last four of this year's event
Nora Hauptle's side begin their campaign against Egypt on Tuesday
Zambia will begin their journey to the when they take to the field in the CAF Women's Africa Cup of Nations. The Copper Queens, who were bronze medalists in 2022 and quarter-finalists in 2025, are bidding to reach the semi-finals in this edition to guarantee a place at next year's Women's World Cup.
The four-semi finalists from this tournament, which will take place between 26 July and 16 August, will qualify for the global finals in Brazil, while the four losing quarter finalists will contest a play-off to decide which two nations advance to the inter-confederation deciders.
"The games won't be easy, but I feel like we are fully prepared for it," Racheal Kundananji told FIFA. "We know what we are here for, and it's just one step at a time to get to our target.
"We are focused and that's why I say it's one step at a time. The first game is our priority, then we can focus on the second game, and then we'll go to another game."
At WAFCON, Zambia have the challenge of Group C on the agenda, featuring Egypt, Nigeria and Malawi. But even being grouped with the competition's most successful competitors in Nigeria, who earned their tenth WAFCON title in 2025, won't phase Nora Hauptle's team.
"It will be step by step until we get to the next round of games; the quarter-finals, the semi-finals until maybe the final, Kundananji continued. "I think first games are always difficult to play and they are the most important games. We are all going for one thing. We are focused and I believe in my team that we can do it."
The Bay F.C forward will link up with a familiar face in fellow NWSL heavyweight Barbra Banda when Zambia kick-off against Egypt on Tuesday. It's a fruitful partnership that saw both players score three goals each at the last WAFCON before the journey ended at the quarter-final stage. The 26-year-old striker is looking forward to reuniting with her captain.
"We've played together for a long time. If I'm not mistaken, it's now eight years since we started playing together. We've known each other for a long, long time. That's why it's very easy for us to coordinate everything. We know our strengths, we know our weaknesses, so it's really easy for us to work together.
"I don't see myself as the player who should carry all the weight on themselves. I believe this is a team sport and working together with my team, things will be easier. The more you think about the pressure that you're carrying, the more I pressure myself, so I always think of just doing my best and doing what I love to do with ease and enjoying the game."
While the full focus is on reaching the later stages of the competition, the players are well aware they are also role models for young players, both female and male, in Africa and beyond.
"We know we are inspiring a lot of young girls, not just in Zambia, not just in Africa but worldwide," she said. "So many young girls, even young boys who are following are inspired by what we are doing. That's why it's difficult for us to give up, because if we give up, what message are we going to send to those young ones? We need to stand strong no matter what comes, because there will be ups and downs.
"It's about being focused and loving what you do and always enjoying the game. One thing that everybody must not forget is to just compete with yourself. The best competitor is myself. When I'm competing with myself I will achieve more because I'm challenging myself, I'm not challenging other people. It's very easy for me to become who I want to be because I'm always doing my best."
Sources: FIFA Official
