Cameroon and Zambia played to a goalless draw in their opening Group B match of the TotalEnergies Women’s Africa Cup of Nations at the Stade Mohammed V on Sunday.

Zambia were without inspirational skipper Barbara Banda who has been ruled out of the competition due to medical reasons.

It may have ended goalless, but the Zambia and Cameroon grudge match at WAFCON nevertheless produced plenty of drama.

Zambia had denied the Cameroonians a place at the Tokyo Olympics and the Indomitable Lionesses were in determined mood to exact their revenge at the Mohammed V Stadium in Casablanca.

Cameroon trio of Michaela Abam, Ajara Nchout Njoya and Gabrielle Aboudi Onguéné all started the match – a first since they all took the field at the World Cup at France 2019.

Bruce Mwapé had to make up for the absence of Barbara Banda, with Grace Chanda at the forefront of the attack, accompanied by Misozi Zulu and Avell Chitundu more advanced than usual.

The Copper Queens were especially resilient, throwing their bodies on the line to halt the Cameroonians by any means possible.

Cameroon were more adventurous and piled the pressure on the Copper Queens but in the end a draw was fair for both sides.

It was a difficult start to the competition for both teams, who will now be looking for points when Zambia face Tunisia in their next match and when Cameroon face Togo on July 6 in Casablanca. .