Copper Queens set Algeria camp before WAFCON 2026

LUSAKA — The Copper Queens' pre-WAFCON base is Algeria, where Zambia will play two friendlies against the hosts on 19 and 22 July, the Football Association of Zambia said.

The camp sharpens Zambia for a tournament that carries far more than a continental title. A top-four finish at WAFCON 2026 delivers direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. For the Copper Queens, the Algeria fixtures are the last competitive test before Morocco.

The Algeria plan follows the 28-player local camp Nora Häuptle opened in June, detailed in Kwacha News's report on the Copper Queens' opening WAFCON training camp under Häuptle. The Football Association of Zambia said the Algerian embassy cleared the squad's entry, confirmation that arrived at the end of June. The friendlies against Algeria give Häuptle two competitive run-outs on North African soil before the move to Morocco.

Häuptle's build-up leans on a settled spine. Captain Barbra Banda of Orlando Pride heads a group that includes Racheal Kundananji of Bay FC, Prisca Chilufya of Angel City and Grace Chanda of Querétaro. Overseas-based players join the Copper Queens after club commitments, so the Algeria window lets Häuptle bed in the local core first.

Zambia reach the tournament as the first team to have booked a place. The Copper Queens beat Namibia 4-2 and 3-0 for a 7-2 aggregate in October 2025, a run reported by CAF on Zambia becoming the first WAFCON 2026 qualifier. Kundananji led the line across those qualifiers and finished as top scorer with four goals.

The draw placed Zambia in a demanding Group C. The Copper Queens meet holders Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi, a group confirmed in the ESPN report on the WAFCON draw and the 2027 World Cup qualifier. Only the top two in the group advance, which raises the value of every friendly Häuptle can arrange before the opening whistle in Morocco.

CAF decided to reschedule the dates of the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON 2026, to 25 July – 16 August 2026 ... in the light of certain unforeseen circumstances.

— Confederation of African Football, <a href="https://www.cafonline.com/news/caf-reschedules-the-dates-of-the-totalenergies-caf-women-s-africa-cup-wafcon-2026-to-25-july-16-august-2026/">official reschedule statement, 5 March 2026</a>

Why the Algeria camp matters for Zambia

The camp gives Häuptle live opposition rather than a closed training week. Two matches against Algeria test the Copper Queens' shape, set pieces and fitness under match load, and do so in the North African conditions Zambia will meet in Morocco. The shared travel to Morocco after 22 July also tidies the logistics of a long tournament build-up.

The stakes reach beyond the WAFCON trophy. Because the tournament is the CAF route to Brazil 2027, every fixture in the build-up feeds a squad whose target is a top-four finish. A June warm-up title had already handed the Copper Queens momentum; the Algeria friendlies convert that momentum into tournament-specific sharpness.

The Algeria window also settles a practical question of timing. Overseas-based players join the Copper Queens only after club commitments end, so Häuptle uses the friendlies to integrate returning internationals into a side that has trained together since June. Two full matches let the coaching staff rehearse substitutions, partnerships and the intensity a WAFCON knockout demands.

Background

WAFCON 2026 is the first edition of the women's continental championship to feature 16 teams, per CAF, up from 12. The Copper Queens rank among the continent's leading sides after reaching the semi-finals in 2022 and taking bronze, and both Banda and Kundananji are among the most prominent forwards in African football. Zambia have since become a fixture on the women's world stage, including an Olympic appearance in Paris.

The 2027 pathway raises the profile of every African contender this cycle. Southern African rivals are chasing the same prize, and Kwacha News charted one such push in its piece on South Africa reaching a World Cup knockout stage for the first time, a marker of how far the region's programmes have travelled. This report is part of Kwacha News's sports and entertainment coverage.

What to watch

The first marker is 19 July, when the Copper Queens face Algeria in the opening friendly, followed by the second meeting on 22 July before the squads travel to Morocco. From there, attention turns to Zambia's Group C opener at WAFCON 2026, with the tournament running to the 16 August final and the top four sealing direct World Cup places. The Football Association of Zambia is expected to confirm the final travelling party once overseas players complete club fixtures.

Sources

See the CAF reschedule statement confirming 25 July to 16 August 2026; the CAF report on Zambia becoming the first WAFCON 2026 qualifier; the Africa Top Sports report on Häuptle naming the squad and the Algeria friendlies, 26 June 2026; and the ESPN account of the Group C draw and the 2027 World Cup qualifier.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about the Copper Queens' Algeria camp, the WAFCON 2026 dates and the route to the 2027 World Cup are answered below, drawing on CAF's official statements and the confirmed squad.

What are the Copper Queens doing in Algeria?

In short, the Copper Queens are staging a pre-WAFCON training camp in Algeria and playing two friendlies against the hosts on 19 and 22 July, according to the Football Association of Zambia. The Algerian embassy cleared the squad's entry, and both teams then travel on to Morocco. Analysis of the calendar shows the fixtures are Zambia's final competitive tune-up before the tournament opens.

When is WAFCON 2026 and where is the tournament held?

The answer is 25 July to 16 August 2026, in Morocco, per CAF, which rescheduled the tournament from its original March-April window. Evidence from the CAF statement shows WAFCON 2026 is the first edition expanded to 16 teams. Research into the schedule confirms Zambia enter as the first side to have qualified.

How do the Copper Queens qualify for the 2027 World Cup?

The key is a top-four finish at WAFCON 2026, which carries direct qualification for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. Data from CAF shows the top four go straight through, while two more nations enter an inter-confederation play-off. According to that pathway, the Copper Queens must reach at least the semi-finals to book a direct place.

Who leads the Zambia squad at WAFCON 2026?

In other words, Swiss coach Nora Häuptle picks the side and captain Barbra Banda leads it on the pitch. The spine of the 28-player call-up shows Banda alongside Racheal Kundananji, Prisca Chilufya and Grace Chanda. Research into the qualifying run reveals Kundananji finished as top scorer as Zambia advanced.

Which group is Zambia in at WAFCON 2026?

The answer is Group C, where Zambia face holders Nigeria, Egypt and Malawi, according to the draw. Evidence from the format shows the top two in each group advance to the knockout stage. Analysis of the draw shows the Copper Queens must finish in the top two to keep the World Cup route alive.