Zambia's Copper Queens return to camp this Saturday as they resume preparations for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations, set to kick off in Morocco on 26 July. The squad had been stood down for a week following the conclusion of a home Four Nations Tournament, with the technical staff using the break to assess and plan the next phase of a build-up that has been months in the making. With the tournament also serving as a qualifier for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, the stakes for Zambia could hardly be higher.

Algeria Camp Sets the Stage Before Morocco Arrival

After reassembling this weekend, the Copper Queens will depart for North Africa early next month, where they are scheduled to spend approximately two weeks in Algeria. The purpose of the stint is primarily acclimatisation - Morocco's summer heat and humidity present conditions considerably different from what the players experience at home, and preparing the body and mind for that environment is a recognised part of modern international tournament preparation. Much like how elite teams across different disciplines - from football squads to competitors seeking advantages at events as varied as the cct global finals - invest heavily in preparation logistics, Zambia's technical team are leaving nothing to chance in the lead-up to one of African football's flagship women's competitions. Two friendly matches are planned during the Algeria camp, providing further competitive sharpening before the team boards a chartered flight directly into Morocco ahead of the group stage.

A Preparation Campaign Built on Tough Tests

Zambia's WAFCON preparations began in earnest back in April when the Copper Queens travelled to Brazil to compete in the FIFA Series tournament. It was a demanding assignment - defeats against hosts Brazil and Canada underlined the quality gap that still exists between African sides and the top-ranked nations globally, though a draw against South Korea offered some encouragement heading into the continental phase of preparation. Back on home soil last week, the Four Nations Tournament produced more positive results: a penalty shootout victory over Kenya was followed by a convincing 3-1 win against Zimbabwe, giving the squad rhythm, combinations, and confidence ahead of the Algeria camp.

Group C Promises No Easy Path to the Knockout Rounds

When the group draw was made, Zambia were handed one of the more demanding pools at the tournament. Group C pits the Copper Queens against defending champions Nigeria, a side that has dominated African women's football for decades and whose Super Falcons represent the gold standard on the continent. Regional rivals Malawi and Egypt complete the group, meaning Zambia cannot afford to treat any fixture as a formality. For a team that has grown considerably in stature since their historic debut at the FIFA Women's World Cup, reaching the knockout rounds from this group would represent a significant achievement - and would meaningfully advance their qualification hopes for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil, with four automatic berths available to African teams. The tournament runs through to 16 August, giving the Copper Queens a potential three-week campaign if they navigate the group stage successfully.