Chebbak stunner earns draw for Morocco in opener
Host nation Morocco salvaged a 2-2 draw against Zambia in a thrilling opener at the Women's Africa Cup of Nations 2024 thanks to a late long-range leveller from captain Ghizlane Chebbak.
Chebbak picked up the ball and fired home a perfect strike from distance to beat Zambia goalkeeper Ngambo Musole in the 87th minute, earning a point from a match in which the host had been largely second best.
After a lavish ceremony to open the tournament, which was delayed from 2024 because of scheduleding issues, Zambia got off to a flyer when Africa's female player of the year Barbra Banda surged forward and blasted home the first goal of the tournament with just 58 seconds on the clock.
In a frenetic opening period, Morocco equalised on 12 minutes after Chebbak was fouled in the box and Ibtissam Jraidi converted from the spot after a video assistant referee check.
Zambia was back in front on 27 minutes when Banda played Racheal Kundananji through, and she fired home from inside the box as the Copper Queens went into the half-time break deservdedly ahead.
Despite creating a number of chances to extend its lead, Zambia was unable to do so, and it proved costly late in the game when the ball was cleared out of its box to the feet of Chebbak, who took a touch before curling a right-foot shot into the top corner, with Musole only able to stand still and admire.
That sent the Morocco bench pouring on to the pitch to celebrate as it claimed a crucial point in Group A, in which DR Congo and Senegal are the other teams.
They will play on Monday (AEST) while Group B will also get underway, with Nigeria up against Tunisia and Algeria facing off against Botswana.
Defending champion South Africa starts its campaign on Tuesday (AEST) with a Group C fixture against Ghana, before Mali and Tanzania round out Matchday 1 later on the same day.
