Staff Reporter.
Racheal Kundananji cemented her status as one of the stars of women’s football with a long-range winner for Zambia that earned it a 1-0 win over DR Congo at the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations and sealed a place in the quarter-finals.
Kundananji, who is the world’s most expensive female footballer, fired home a free-kick from outside the box in the ninth minute, and that proved enough for the Copper Queens to claim victory.
Zambia joins Group A winner Morocco in the last eight after the tournament host beat Senegal 1-0 in its match.
Congo was reduced to 10 women in the 67th minute when Falonne Pambani was sent off for kicking Ireen Lungu in the face and will go home from the tournament having finished last in the group.
Zambia and Morocco will play their quarter-final matches next Saturday (AEST).
Zambia face the winners of Group B in the last eight, which will provide a blockbuster clash against Nigeria if the record nine-time Wafcon winners avoid defeat against Algeria on Sunday (19:00 GMT).
Morocco, meanwhile, will take on the third-placed finisher in Group B or Group C.
Senegal finished third in Group A with three points and must wait to see if they will progress to the quarter-finals as one of the two best-ranked third-place sides.