Perennial favourites Nigeria will kick off their 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) campaign on Sunday with a Group B showdown against Tunisia at the Larbi Zaouli Stadium in Casablanca.

The highly anticipated fixture is scheduled for 5pm Nigerian time.

This encounter marks only the second time the Super Falcons will face Tunisia at WAFCON. Their first meeting was at the 2008 edition in Equatorial Guinea, where both sides played out a goalless draw in a Group B clash in Bata.

Back then, Nigeria had drawn 1-1 with Ghana in their opener, while Tunisia fell 2-1 to South Africa. Nigeria eventually advanced to the knockout stage as group runners-up, while Tunisia finished bottom of the group.

The Super Falcons have a dominant record against North African opposition in WAFCON history, remaining unbeaten in open play across six matches (four wins, two draws).

Their only loss came via penalties to hosts Morocco in the semi-finals of the 2022 edition, after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

This year’s opener marks the third time Nigeria will begin a WAFCON campaign against a North African team.

They previously opened with emphatic victories—an 8-0 rout of Morocco and 4-0 wins over Algeria, in the 1998 and 2004 editions.

Overall, Nigeria have netted 25 goals and conceded just once in six WAFCON matches against North African opponents. They kept clean sheets in each of their first five such games before conceding against Morocco in 2022.

For Tunisia, Sunday’s match will be their fifth against West African opposition at WAFCON. Their record stands at one win, two draws, and one loss. Notably, they drew 0-0 with Nigeria and lost 3-2 to Ghana in the 2008 group stage.

More recently, they defeated Togo 4-1 in 2022 and held Senegal to a goalless draw in a 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup intercontinental playoff, before losing on penalties.

As both teams look to start strong in a competitive Group B, history favours Nigeria, but Tunisia will be eager to upset the script and make a statement in Casablanca.

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With a purse of $3,475,000, the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) kicks off with a historic opening match as hosts Morocco take on Zambia in what will be the first-ever meeting between the two sides at the continental tournament.

Both nations impressed in the previous edition in 2022, also hosted by Morocco. The Atlas Lionesses reached the final for the first time, eventually finishing runners-up to South Africa, while Zambia’s Copper Queens claimed their first-ever bronze medal after edging Nigeria in the third-place playoff.

This clash brings together two of Africa’s rising forces in women’s football, with Morocco aiming to build on their breakthrough success on home soil, and Zambia seeking to continue their upward trajectory following their strong World Cup qualification and Olympic pedigree.

It will be Morocco’s third encounter with a Southern African opponent at WAFCON. In 2022, they defeated Botswana 2-1 in the quarterfinals before narrowly losing 2-1 to South Africa in the final. For Zambia, this marks their second meeting with a host nation at the tournament, having lost 2-0 to Namibia during the group stage in 2014.

Zambia will also be facing North African opposition for only the second time at WAFCON. Their first such meeting came in 2022, when they defeated Tunisia 1-0 in the group stage—a result that demonstrated their growing tactical maturity on the continental stage.

Morocco will enjoy familiar surroundings once again, playing all their group-stage matches in Rabat as they did in 2022. Their games will take place at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, near the Rabat Olympic Stadium. Zambia, meanwhile, played only once in Rabat during the last tournament—a commanding 4-1 win over Togo at Stade Moulay Hassan—before playing the remainder of their matches in Casablanca.

Adding another intriguing layer to the fixture is the touchline reunion between the two head coaches. Morocco’s Jorge Vilda and Zambia’s Nora Häuptle previously faced off at the 2018 UEFA Women’s U-19 Championship, when Vilda’s Spain defeated Häuptle’s Switzerland 2-0 en route to winning the tournament.

With both teams boasting strong recent records and ambitious goals, this opening match promises to set the tone for an exciting WAFCON 2024.

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Morocco’s Atlas Lionesses begin their quest for Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) glory on home soil with a mouth-watering opening clash against Zambia — a team they famously routed 5-0 at last year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup under the same coach, Jorge Vilda.

Returning as runners-up from the 2022 edition, Morocco head into this year’s tournament with confidence, momentum, and a determination to go one step further.

That 2022 campaign marked their best-ever finish in the competition, after group-stage exits in their only previous appearances in 1998 and 2000.

The Lionesses’ overall WAFCON record stands at P12 W5 D2 L5, with all five wins coming on home soil during their breakout 2022 run.

Before then, they had won just once in six matches—against Egypt in 1998. But with a new generation of talent and a world champion tactician at the helm, Morocco now stand as genuine title contenders.

Clean sheets have historically been rare for Morocco, with just three in 12 matches, including the narrow 1-0 victories over Burkina Faso and Senegal in 2022.

Defensively improved and tactically sharper under Vilda, the team will be aiming for a disciplined performance against Zambia’s high-flying attack.

Star forward Ghizlane Chebbak remains key to Morocco’s ambitions. She scored in all three group-stage games in 2022, finishing with three goals—the most by a Moroccan at a single WAFCON—and will be looked upon again to deliver in front of a passionate home crowd.

Head coach Jorge Vilda, who famously guided Spain to the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup title, brings pedigree, tactical acumen, and valuable big-stage experience.

Notably, he led Spain to a 5-0 group-stage victory over Zambia at that tournament—a psychological edge the Moroccan squad may draw from in this opening showdown.

Facing a Zambian team buoyed by recent continental success and offensive firepower, Morocco know they will be tested.

But with home support behind them and redemption within reach, the Atlas Lionesses are ready to roar into WAFCON 2024 with purpose and pride.

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