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Two of Africa’s best players turned on the style as hosts Morocco struck late to earn themselves a 2-2 draw against Zambia in an open and entertaining first game of the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).

Both sides are viewed as among the favourites to lift the new Wafcon trophy in three weeks’ time, meaning this game was always likely to offer up a mouth-watering start to the tournament.

It was left to Morocco talisman Ghizlane Chebbak to rescue a point for her side, curling a long-range strike into the top corner in the 88th minute to spark wild celebrations among staff and players on the touchline.

Until that point it had looked as if Zambia captain Barbra Banda, the reigning African player of the year, would steal the headlines, having scored inside the first minute on what was her first ever Wafcon appearance.

The forward also set up Racheal Kundananji’s 27th-minute goal, which came after Ibtissam Jraidi’s penalty, awarded with the help of VAR, had briefly seen Morocco level.

Banda, 25, came into the tournament off the back of a stellar 12 months which saw her also named BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year, score the winning goal for club side Orlando Pride in the National Women’s Soccer League Championship final, and become Africa’s all-time leading scorer – male or female – in Olympic football.

However, she had been forced to wait a long time to make her mark at a Wafcon.

An unused member of the Copper Queens squad in 2018, she saw the 2020 edition cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic and missed out in 2022 amid confusion over ‘gender eligibility’ rules, with the situation later resolved.

But her first contribution on African football’s biggest stage caused obvious fear in the Moroccan rearguard, with three defenders backing off as Banda carried the ball from the halfway line to the edge of the box.

Her shot was on target but should have been saved by goalkeeper Khadija Er-Rmichi, who somehow allowed it to squirm past her to provide a truly electric start.

But Morocco, who dominated with over 70% of possession throughout the game, were not behind for long.

Play was initially waved on by referee Shamirah Nabadda following a clumsy challenge inside the box by Grace Chanda on fellow midfielder Najat Badri, but the video assistant referee advised Nabadda to go to the monitor and the Ugandan duly overturned her original decision.

Jraidi made no mistake from the spot, hitting the ball high into the net to level proceedings in the 12th minute, lifting the volume inside the Olympic Stadium, the venue which will also host the final on 26 July.

Pride forward Banda then showed her class again 15 minutes later, finding time on the ball to slide a defence-splitting pass into the path of another player based in the USA, Bay FC’s Racheal Kundananji, Africa’s most expensive player, who finished calmly past Er-Rmichi.

In a second half that saw players on both sides visibly tire as time ticked away, Morocco struggled to carve out clear chances.

With new boss Jorge Vilda, the man who masterminded Spain’s World Cup triumph in 2023, prowling the touchline, the Atlas Lionesses looked to set to become the first hosts to lose an opening match since South Africa were defeated by Ghana in 2004.

Er-Rmichi had already made partial amends for her earlier error by saving a tame header from Banda before Fatima Tagnaout blazed over from a tight angle after being played through by Chebbak.

Operating in a deep-lying playmaker role, Chebbak, who turns 35 next month, was a class above with the ball at her feet.

And with only two minutes of normal time remaining, it was the Morocco skipper who played a captain’s role, finding a moment of quality to loop the ball beyond the reach of the flat-footed Zambia keeper Petronella Musole.

It did not go to plan in England’s Euro 2025 opener as the holders fell to defeat by France. So where did it all go wrong?

Pundits said the Lionesses were “bullied” and “played into France’s hands”, while manager Sarina Wiegman felt they “created their own problems” and defender Jess Carter said they “played like they were a little bit scared”.

First-half goals from Marie-Antoinette Katoto and Sandy Baltimore were enough to carry the French to victory, despite a late response from Keira Walsh.

The bulk of England’s issues seemed to stem from midfield as Georgia Stanway and Walsh were overrun and their opponents were devastating on the break.

Wiegman admitted sloppiness in possession played into France’s hands as they pressed hard and took advantage of individual errors.

Captain Leah Williamson was visibly frustrated at full-time and described the errors as “some cheap sort of emotional defending”.

France winger Sandy Baltimore won her individual battles with her Chelsea team-mate Lucy Bronze – the England defender losing six duels, the most by any player.

And until Walsh’s 87th-minute strike, the Lionesses had not achieved a shot on target.

“I think we played like we were a little bit scared,” said Carter.

“Maybe we weren’t aggressive enough, maybe we were worrying about their threats in behind and what they can do rather than doing what we can do.

“We didn’t do as well on the ball, or off the ball. The only positive to take is the last 10 minutes. I really believed we would get a [second] goal. “

England’s level seemed to surprise French media, who had largely written off their side’s chances when key centre-back Griedge Mbock was ruled out through injury.

“I didn’t think the French could play at this level already and I didn’t think England could be so disappointing like they were for an hour,” French journalist Julien Laurens told BBC Radio 5 Live.

France manager Laurent Bonadei admitted England’s explosive start, that saw Lauren James create a handful of chances, took them by surprise. But he felt his side controlled proceedings after that and “physically it was not easy for England”.

James’ apparent free role certainly looked exciting at the start – but did it leave her side exposed in midfield?

Wiegman’s response to that question was emphatic.

“[James] didn’t have a total free role. We got exposed by losing balls in moments where we didn’t want to lose the ball,” she said. “That was the main topic we wanted to find a solution for. “

Following the introductions of Chloe Kelly, Grace Clinton and Michelle Agyemang, the Lionesses responded, but too late to change the outcome, and former midfielder Karen Carney was far from impressed.

“It wasn’t good enough. We were bullied all over the pitch. We didn’t win enough duels. We looked like we’ve never played together,” she told ITV.

Williamson said England left themselves “open to waves” of France’s attacking onslaught due to their sloppiness in possession.

But she is confident their gameplan was the right one.

This was their toughest match on paper of the group stage and previous battles with France in Euro 2025 qualifying highlighted their opponents’ pedigree.

Ranked 10th in the world, France have largely underwhelmed at major tournaments but manager Bonadei is leading a new era and they are hungry for success.

“I’m just frustrated because I think the football that we played near the end, and the gameplan, could’ve worked,” Williamson told BBC Sport.

“We just didn’t execute [the gameplan] exceptionally well. It doesn’t look great from the table point of view – but it was two heavyweights going up against each other and we came up short.

“There’s still every chance [of winning]. The goal doesn’t change. “

Defender Alex Greenwood described England’s next two matches against the Netherlands and Wales as ones they “must win” – so can they?

They looked much better in the final 10 minutes when they were able to play through France’s midfield.

With Baltimore, Katoto and Delphine Cascarino off the pitch, along with their electric pace and skill, England’s full-backs were less exposed.

Midfielder Clinton looked assured in her short cameo, teenage forward Agyemang was a menace and Manchester United’s Ella Toone played with healthy frustration having been left out of the starting XI for James.

And the bursts of creativity displayed by James in the opening 15 minutes will have given supporters a glimpse of what they can do when it comes together.

Defeat leaves England already playing catch-up in Group D.

With three points on the board for both France and the Netherlands, who beat Wales 3-0, the Lionesses must respond if they hope to reach the quarter-finals.

Only the top two qualify for the knockout stages and England will face 2017 champions the Netherlands on Wednesday, knowing France will be heavy favourites to claim victory against the lowest-ranked nation in the tournament, Wales.

If teams finish on the same points after three matches, it will come down to head-to-head records, putting greater emphasis on England’s next match.

“If we play our game to the best, everyone knows that sometimes we’re untouchable,” said Clinton.

“Obviously getting our passes where they need to go, just the little details, then that would have been able to break down France a little bit more.

“It’s tournament football and these things are going to happen. “

It was France manager Bonadei, though, who reminded everyone not to write off England.

“England are a really good team. They are fifth in the world rankings and won the last Euros, so we have to respect this team,” he said.

And midfielder Toone added they have a “strong mentality” that puts them in good stead for their final group matches.

“We know what it takes to win tournaments and to get to finals in tournaments. We know how to play the game,” she added.

“We knew that we always had to win two of these group games to get out, so nothing changes.

Trent Alexander-Arnold says former Liverpool team-mate Diogo Jota “was there with me” after helping Real Madrid reach the Club World Cup semi-finals.

Alexander-Arnold and Jota spent five years together at Liverpool before the England full-back left for Madrid in June.

Jota, aged 28, died in a car crash on Thursday along with his 25-year-old brother Andre Silva. Their joint funeral was held on Saturday in Portugal.

Alexander-Arnold has been featuring for Real Madrid at the Club World Cup in the United States and assisted Fran Garcia’s goal in their 3-2 win against Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-final in New Jersey.

He said the news of Jota’s death had been “extremely difficult” to take in.

“As hard as it was to do it, I had to push myself to focus on what my job and role was. I tried to do it as best as I could, but it was difficult and I am not going to lie about that.

“[Jota] was one of my close friends – and I am sure that’s what he would have wanted me to do. I’m sure we would have had a laugh and joke about the assist as well. He was there with me, I am sure. “

Alexander-Arnold said the Portuguese forward was “someone who lit up the room when he was in it”.

“I shared the dressing room with him for five years – amazing memories on and off the pitch,” he added.

“It goes without saying he will never be forgotten by anyone. He will live long in all our memories for the amazing man and the player he was. “

Alexander-Arnold said it had been “very emotional and heartwarming to see the footballing world come together to show their love and support for [Jota], his brother and their family”.

“I’ve been around him, his brother, his family, his amazing wife, his amazing parents and his amazing children. It’s truly, truly heartbreaking to wake up to news like that,” added the England international.

“It’s something you never expect. “

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe was among the players who paid tribute to Jota on Saturday, with the France forward indicating number 20 after scoring an acrobatic late goal, in recognition of Jota’s Liverpool shirt number.