Chebbak’s Late Equalizer Rescues 2-2 Draw for Morocco against Zambia in WAFCON Opener

Hosts Morocco were held to a 2-2 draw by Zambia in the opening match of the TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON 2024) at the Stade Olympique in Rabat. Zambia struck early through Barbra Banda (2′) and added a second via Racheal Kundananji (28′) in the first half, but Morocco fought back with a 12th-minute penalty from Ibtissam Jraïdi and a late goal by captain Ghizlane Chebbak (88′) to earn a share of the points.

Match Summary

Zambia stunned the home crowd immediately after kickoff. In the 2nd minute, Barbra Banda collected the ball outside Morocco’s box and unleashed a powerful low shot into the corner, giving the Copper Queens a shock lead. Morocco responded aggressively: Najat Badri was brought down by Grace Chanda in the penalty area, and after a VAR review the referee awarded a spot kick. Forward Ibtissam Jraïdi calmly converted the 12th-minute penalty into the top-left corner, levelling the score.

The match remained even until just before half-time, when Zambia struck again. In the 28th minute Banda turned provider, playing a perfectly-timed through ball behind Morocco’s defense to striker Racheal Kundananji. Kundananji finished coolly past goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi to restore Zambia’s lead. Morocco continued to press before the break but lacked precision – CAF noted that the hosts were “left frustrated by a series of near misses and wasteful finishing, particularly from Fatima Tagnaout and Ghizlane Chebbak”. The first half ended with Zambia ahead 2-1, and the visitors appeared the more clinical side up to that point.

In the second half, Morocco gradually began to dominate possession and territory. The Atlas Lionesses came close on several occasions: a notable chance saw winger Sanaâ Mssoudy fire a powerful shot that was pushed away by Zambian keeper Ng’ambo Musole. Despite Morocco’s control of the ball, Zambia remained dangerous on the counter. With time running out, Morocco finally broke down the Zambian resistance. In the 87th minute (recorded as the 88th), veteran forward Ghizlane Chebbak picked up the ball just outside the box and unleashed a stunning curling volley into the top corner, drawing cheers from the crowd as it brought the score to 2-2. A few minutes of stoppage time followed without further goals, and the game finished as a draw – a fair result given the balance of play. Importantly, this was the first time since 2004 that a WAFCON host failed to win its opening match, snapping an eight-edition streak.

Player Performances and Tactical Observations

Zambia’s attack was effective from the outset. Barbra Banda’s pace and power were constant threats; her second-minute strike came from exploiting space behind Morocco’s high defensive line. Racheal Kundananji also impressed with intelligent movement and clinical finishing, as shown when she slotted home Zambia’s second goal. Grace Chanda’s presence in midfield helped spring those counter-attacks. By contrast, Morocco initially built through their midfield and flanks but lacked cutting edge early on. Fatima Tagnaout and Chebbak – creative players in the Moroccan side – were cited for missed opportunities, indicating some wastefulness in the final third.

After Zambia’s second goal, Morocco shifted to sustained possession football, gradually taking charge in midfield. Coach Jorge Vilda’s side pushed their full-backs and midfielders forward to find openings. A tactical turning point was the penalty, which not only brought Morocco back into the game at 1-1 but also energized their play. In the second half, Morocco poured men into attacking positions. The hosts’ dominance is reflected in CAF’s report: “Morocco gradually [dominated] possession, and their efforts intensified as the game progressed”. Still, Zambia’s defense held well until Chebbak’s moment of individual brilliance – she picked her spot with a high shot that beat Musole. Notably, Morocco’s veteran leader Chebbak delivered when it mattered most, while Jraïdi’s composure from the spot had earlier kept Morocco in contention. Overall, Zambia was efficient on the break and took their chances, while Morocco controlled much of the game after half-time and finally capitalized on one decisive opportunity.

Outlook and Coaches’ Remarks

With both teams earning one point, Group A is wide open. Morocco and Zambia will each play two more matches (against Senegal and the DR Congo) and remain in contention for the knockout stage. As CAF noted, “both Morocco and Zambia now look ahead to their remaining Group A fixtures with everything still to play for”.

Neither coach had immediate post-match comments available, but both had spoken confidently before kickoff. Morocco coach Jorge Vilda had stressed the importance of a strong start, stating “the first match is always crucial for the rest of the tournament”. Zambia coach Nora Häuptle similarly voiced ambition; she declared at a pre-match press conference that the Copper Queens “have come here to hunt... We are all very hungry, the players and me, to hunt for the title”. Vilda will likely urge his team to turn possession into more goals in the next games, while Häuptle can take heart from her side matching the hosts and earning a point on foreign soil.

Both Morocco and Zambia know that the opening draw makes every remaining point vital. The hosts, who narrowly missed Olympic qualification last year, will seek to leverage home advantage in their next fixture. Zambia, bronze medalists in 2022, will look to build on this positive result. Group A remains competitive, and the teams now refocus on their final group games with the tournament’s quarter-final race very much alive.