Hosts Morocco demonstrated their fighting spirit by claiming a dramatic late draw in the opening match of the 2024 Women's Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon) against Zambia. The Atlas Lionesses, trailing twice, equalized in the 88th minute through Ghizlane Chebbak's long-range strike, earning a valuable point in the Group A encounter in Rabat.

Key Moments:

• 1st Minute: Zambia's Barbra Banda opened the scoring with a swift goal.
• 12th Minute: Morocco's Ibtissam Jraidi leveled the score from the penalty spot.
• Before Half-Time: Racheal Kundananji restored Zambia's lead.
• 88th Minute: Ghizlane Chebbak's spectacular strike ensured Morocco's comeback.

Player Insights:

• Sakina Ouzraoui (Morocco): "We showed that we are fighters. We are Morocco and we don't give up easy."
• Yasmin Mrabet (Morocco): "We managed our emotions well and controlled many moments of the game."
• Racheal Kundananji (Zambia): "This draw has opened our eyes to work harder and secure three points in the next game."

Tournament Context: Morocco, having invested heavily in women's football, aims to claim their first continental title after finishing as runners-up in the 2022 Wafcon. Zambia, with Africa's two most expensive female players, Kundananji and Banda, is also a strong contender.

Coach's Perspective:

• Nora Hauptle (Zambia): "We are not listening to outside expectations. The pressure is in our inner world."

Looking Ahead: Both teams are set to face their next challenges in the tournament, with Morocco determined to keep the cup on home soil and Zambia focused on rectifying their mistakes for future matches.