Copper Queens forward Racheal Kundananji has praised her teammates’ collective effort after Zambia secured a 1-0 win over DR Congo to reach the quarterfinals of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) Morocco 2024.
Speaking after the game, Kundananji, who scored the match-winning goal and was named Woman of the Match for the second time in the tournament, credited teamwork and in-game communication as the key to Zambia’s disciplined performance.
“In the locker room, we had to talk to one another. We had to communicate and say, ‘this is what we need to do’, that’s why if you saw in the next half, we had so much patience. We were moving the ball around because we knew we had the game in control,” Kundananji said.
The win means Zambia finish second in Group A on seven points, level with Morocco but behind on goal difference. They will now face the Group B winners in the quarterfinals on 18 July at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.
Kundananji insists the team is prepared for whichever opponent comes next, with the mindset firmly locked on the tournament’s ultimate prize.
“We wanted first place, but unfortunately, we didn’t score more goals. That said, we don’t care which position we are in now, our eyes are still on the same thing,” she said.
The Bay FC striker has now scored three goals in three group matches, making her the first Zambian to score in three consecutive WAFCON games. Her freekick in the ninth minute sealed the win and added to her growing list of personal milestones.
“I had to take a deep breath before the freekick and in my mind I was only thinking one thing. I told myself, ‘I’m taking it,’ and I did.”
