Ghana and Zambia dominate opening matches of WAFCON 2026
In the opening round of the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, Ghana’s Black Queens beat debutants Cape Verde 2‑0 at the Stade Moulay Rachid in Casablanca. Doris Boaduwaa opened the scoring in the sixth minute after a long pass from Portia Boakye, and an own‑goal by Cape Verde defender Eleia Vieira in the 54th minute gave the visitors a comfortable lead. Cape Verde finished the match with ten players after Klaydiana Borges was sent off in stoppage time. The win puts Ghana top of Group D.
In the same round, Zambia’s Copper Queens overwhelmed Egypt 6‑0 at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat. Captain Barbra Banda was directly involved in five of the six goals, scoring four herself and providing the assist for Eneless Phiri’s fifth goal. The victory moves Zambia to the top of Group C. Both results set the tone for the tournament, with Ghana and Zambia starting as early favorites in their respective groups.
Entities: 2026 Women's Africa Cup of Nations · Barbra Banda · Cameroon women's national football team · Doris Boaduwaa · Egypt women's national football team · Ghana women's national football team · Ghana women's national football team (Black Queens) · Olympic Stadium (Rabat) · TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations 2026 · Zambia women's national football team · Zambia women's national football team (Copper Queens)
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Barbra Banda provided an assist for a fifth goal. (Barbra Banda)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The 6-0 victory is Zambia's biggest ever win in a WAFCON tournament. (Zambia)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Zambia defeated Egypt 6-0 in the WAFCON 2026 Group C opening match. (Zambia)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Zambia leads Group C after the win. (Zambia vs Egypt match report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Barbra Banda's four goals put her in contention for the tournament Golden Boot. (Barbra Banda)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The match was played at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, Morocco. (All three articles specify the venue.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Barbra Banda scored four goals in the match. (All three articles state Banda netted four times.)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Zambia's next group match will be against Nigeria on August 1. (Zambia)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Zambia defeated Egypt 6-0 in the WAFCON 2026 opening match. (Zambia vs Egypt match report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Racheal Nachula scored from a penalty. (All three articles detail Nachula’s penalty goal.)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Zambia’s win placed them at the top of Group C. (All three articles note the group standing.)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Barbra Banda moved to the top of the tournament’s scoring charts, entering Golden Boot contention. (Articles 1 and 2 mention her leading the scoring charts.)