Zambia pulled one of the biggest surprises in the history of the competition after beating Equatorial Guinea by 5-0 in a Group B clash in Cape Coast, to record their first ever win.

The She-polopolo set the ball rolling with an early lead courtesy an excellent free-kick from Grace Chanda seven minutes after kick-off.

Equatorial Guinea, reinstated after the winning appeal against Kenya, nearly levelled in the 24th minute but Zambia’s goalkeeper Hazel Nathasha Nali made a wonderful save to stop it.

Irene Lungu doubled Zambia’s lead on the stroke of halftime with a sublime free-kick. Equatorial Guinea kept pushing for a consolation and a boost but failed to break the defence of Zambia.

Racheal Kundananji pounced on a rebound to make it 3-0 for Zambia in the 57th minute. Mary Mwakapila added another ten minutes later from the spot after she was fouled inside the box.

Nali made another huge save to prevent a consolation from Equatorial Guinea a minute later to keep her side in the driving seat.

Kundananji could have gotten the first hat-trick of the tournament but failed to convert a penalty in the 76th minute. She completed the rout with her second of the night three minutes from the final whistle.

The win takes Zambia to the summit of Group B via superior goals despite having three points apiece with South Africa.

Total Woman of the Match: Rachael Kundananji (Zambia)

CAF