Racheal Nachula confident Zambia will shine in coming competitions

Zambia are preparing hard for the 2026 COSAFA Women’s Championship and the upcoming TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2026, with veteran defender Racheal Nachula confident they will do well in both.

The COSAFA championship will be in South Africa from February 18-April 1, and serve as the perfect warm-up for the TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2026 that is to be staged from March 17-April 3.

Zambia made the quarter-finals of the continental finals last year when the 2024 edition was played in July 2025, losing 5-0 to eventual champions Nigeria. Nachula says there will be no repeat of that result this time round as they clash again in the pool stages.

“We are preparing very well and we are ready,” she said. “There is strong competition within the team, which you can see in how everyone is pushing themselves. Everyone is giving their best and we are really looking forward to the challenge.

“We are ready to face Nigeria. The last time we played them, they beat us 5–0, but this time we are going to work extra hard. We are fully prepared and ready to face anything.”

The 40-year-old Nachula is a veteran of the side but says there is also a good blend of youth and experience in the team.

“We all need each other. The younger players are bringing fresh legs and new energy, while those of us with experience are guiding them. When we combine that, we can work together and achieve something special.”

The TotalEnergies CAF WAFCON Morocco 2026 also serves as the qualifier for the 2027 Women’s World Cup in Brazil, with the four teams that reach the semifinals advancing to the global finals.

“We are going to work extra hard to make sure we qualify for the World Cup. It is very important for us to be back there. We have been to the World Cup before and we know how special it is, so we are determined to give everything to make sure we qualify again,” she said.