Zambia’s national women’s team captain, Barbara Banda, has said her side will face Nigeria without fear in their quarter-final clash at the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), according to Daily Post.
The Copper Queens, who are aiming to secure back-to-back semi-final appearances, finished third at the last edition of the tournament after defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the third-place match.
Nigeria, nine-time champions of the competition, topped Group B with a perfect record and without conceding a goal. However, some observers note that the Super Falcons have yet to reach their peak performance.
Despite Nigeria’s strong pedigree and individual talent, Banda — the reigning African Footballer of the Year — said her team remains focused and undeterred.
“We are not scared, but we respect them because we know the game is 90-plus minutes,” Banda said during a press conference in Casablanca. “We are going to speak on the pitch. We want to hunt it.”
The quarter-final encounter is expected to be a highly competitive fixture, with both teams vying for a place in the semi-finals and, ultimately, a shot at the continental title