The Egyptian wall holds out in the first half (1-0)
Zambia took to the pitch with the plan their coach Nora Häuptle had laid down: press high, take hold of the ball and subject Egypt to it from the first whistle. Across the opening 45 minutes the Copper Queens monopolised possession (62%) and besieged the Egyptian box, managing 30 touches in the penalty area and 15 shots in all. Egypt, though, dug themselves into a very low block, racking up 22 clearances before the interval and forcing Zambia to shoot from distance or run aground in the crowd of legs.
The lock was picked in the 25th minute. After a Zambian raid into the area a penalty was given, and Racheal Nachula made no mistake from twelve yards for 1-0. Egypt felt the blow, and shortly afterwards lost Thuraya Ashraf to injury in the 32nd minute, replaced by Leia Khairy. Despite generating 1.82 xG and winning four corners, Zambia went in at the break with a slender lead that flattered their opponents.
Barbra Banda’s second-half gale (5-0 after the interval)
If the first half was about letting the game ripen, the second was an unstoppable gale led by Barbra Banda. Not even the double change Mohamed Kamal made at the restart could slow the avalanche.
In the 60th minute another penalty allowed Barbra Banda to open her account and make it 2-0. Egypt were given no time to absorb it: barely three minutes later, on 63, Prisca Chilufya set up the captain for 3-0. With the game broken open, Häuptle sent on Eneless Phiri in the 64th minute, and Zambia kept their foot down with direct football fed by Kundananji and Banda.
The closing stretch was an exhibition of ruthlessness and physical superiority:
- On 87, Barbra Banda completed her hat-trick with a solo effort for 4-0.
- On 90+2, Banda turned provider, laying the ball off for Eneless Phiri, who crowned an excellent cameo off the bench with the 5-0.
- On 90+6, Racheal Kundananji served Barbra Banda on a plate for the forward to round off the afternoon with her fourth of the day and a final 6-0.
The numbers: a footballing chasm
The final metrics reflect a level of dominance rarely seen on an opening day at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations:
- Expected goals (xG): Zambia recorded 4.98 xG (3.79 xGOT) against just 0.11 xG (0.14 xGOT) for Egypt.
- Attacking volume: 34 shots (12 on target, 23 from inside the box) and 55 touches in the opposition area, against only 5 shots (3 on target) and a single touch in the Zambian box from Egypt.
- Control: 63% possession and eight corners to none.
- Egyptian resistance: their back line put in 47 clearances across the 90 minutes to try to stem the flood, while Zambia goalkeeper Hazel Nali was called upon for only three saves.