Women's AFCON 2024: Senegal eye qualification, Morocco look to bounce back
Women's AFCON 2024: Senegal face Zambia in a heavyweight clash, with Morocco up against it. The Senegalese can book their place as early as today
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Zambia v Senegal: fireworks expected
A quarter-final ticket is up for grabs between Zambia and Senegal. The Lionesses, 4-0 winners over DR Congo in their opening match, top Group A, arguably the toughest of this 2024 Women's AFCON. Mame Moussa Cissé's players have a golden opportunity to secure a place in the quarter-finals after just the 2nd round of games, and give themselves time to look ahead to the rest of the competition. "This match against Zambia is a challenge, a real test for our team. We are outsiders, but we will give ourselves every chance to make our mark, " the Senegal coach admitted.
Zambia, for their part, arrive frustrated and out for revenge. The Copper Queens, who deserved to win the opening match of this Women's AFCON, were held to a draw by Morocco (2-2) despite dominating throughout (12 shots, 8 on target and several clear chances missed). The duo of Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji will try to lead Zambia to a win to get their campaign back on track.
Morocco must get their campaign going
In what is "their" Women's AFCON, Morocco struggled in the opener, with a 2-2 draw against Zambia salvaged by an equaliser in the closing minutes. Above all, the host nation showed weaknesses in their play and conceded a huge number of chances. Fatima Tagnaout and her team-mates must therefore put things right, and above all win to get back on track and avoid a high-stakes final round of group games against Senegal. To do so, they will have to beat a Congolese side fighting for survival after the thrashing they took against Senegal.
Today's schedule, 9 July (GMT times)
16:00 : Zambia v Senegal
19:00 : DR Congo v Morocco