Inspired by Barbra Banda's brace and a Racheal Kundananji strike, Zambia picked up a crucial 3-2 win over Senegal at Stade El Bachir in Mohammédia on Wednesday to knock the Lionesses of Teranga off the top of Group A in the Women's Africa Cup of Nations -- a position that Morocco took later with a 4-2 win over Congo DR in Rabat.
The early game was not all smooth sailing for the Copper Queens.
Zambia's defensive deficiencies were exposed in the fifth minute as Méta Kandé unlocked the backline to play Nguenar Ndiaye through. The defenders may have been able to recover, but goalkeeper Ngambo Musole rushed out too early and did not get the ball, allowing Nguenar to easily round her and tap in her third goal of the tournament.
Whatever their problems at the back, Zambia are ruthless upfront and they were soon back on level terms. Bay FC forward Kundananji played in Orlando Pride striker Banda to slot home a 12th-minute equaliser.
Banda attempted to repay the favour in the 22nd minute, with a superb cross from the right, but Kundananji lost control of the ball and failed to convert from close range.
Banda had the ball in the back of the net again in first-half stoppage time, as she met a Kundananji cross in the area and stroked the ball into the bottom corner with an expertly placed right-foot shot. However, the goal was disallowed as Banda had strayed offside before the cross was delivered.
In the 51st minute, Kundananji pounced after Wolimata Ndiaye's sloppy touch, sneaking in behind and finishing deftly to give Zambia the lead. Then, in the 73rd minute, she was left unmarked at the back post as a cross came in from the Fridah Mukoma on Zambia's right; the Bay FC star's shot was parried by goalkeeper Adji Ndiaye into the path of Banda, who scored on the follow-up.
Senegal pulled a goal back seven minutes later, through a penalty from Nguenar -- who had won the spot-kick off Musole after a missed opportunity at the other end moments earlier. Mukoma had fluffed her lines from close range at the other end, after meeting a Prisca Chilufya cross.
Despite a shaky finish to the game, Zambia had enough to get over the line and hold onto the three points.
The second game also saw an early goal from the underdogs.
Morocco did most of the early attacking at the Olympic Stadium in Rabat, but Congo DR hit them on the break. Merveille Kanjinga fired across Khadija Er-Rmichi to open the scoring in the sixth minute after she was played in behind by Naomie Kabakaba.
Morocco pushed for an equaliser, and Ghizlane Chebbak rattled the crossbar in the 15th minute. She was not to be denied 10 minutes later, as she fired into the bottom corner on the volley from just inside the box after a headed clearance off a cross deflected into her path.
Chebbak doubled up in the 43rd minute, after Fideline Ngoy spilled Fatima Tagnaout's cross, leading to a deflection off Ibtissam Jraïdi. Chebbak has scored off a deflection off Morocco's No. 9 at this tournament.
Morocco pushed for another goal in the second half, with Chebbak still leading the charge, but moments after Ngoy denied her effort with a fine save, Congo DR scored again on the break in the 70th minute. Flavine Mawete got the goal and Marlène Kasaj the assist.
Five minutes later, Chebbak completed her hat-trick to dig Morocco out of trouble once again, meeting an Imene El Ghazouani cross from the right on the stretch at the far post to score.
Morocco put the game beyond doubt in the 83rd minute, when Yasmin Mrabet sent Ngoy the wrong way from a penalty.
The Group A action concludes on Saturday, when Zambia play Congo DR and Senegal face Morocco. Morocco lead the group on goal difference, with the Atlas Lionesses and Zambia tied on four points. A win for each of those teams will secure their place in the knockout rounds.
Senegal have three points, and will fancy their chances of going through as one of the two best third-placed teams across three groups, if not one of the top two in the group, after their 4-0 drubbing of Congo DR in their opening match and a spirited effort against Zambia.
Congo DR are out of the tournament regardless of what happens at the weekend, but they produced encouraging signs against Morocco, and will look to exploit Zambia's defensive difficulties to clinch a famous upset.
Moment of the Day: There were several pieces of superb interplay between Banda and Kundananji, but Zambia's first goal in the win over Senegal was the most impressively orchestrated: Kundananji's assist was perfectly weighted and Banda's finish emphatic.
Player of the Day: Chebbak was a shining light in an overall shaky performance from Morocco against Congo DR. Ndiaye and Banda may have scored braces in the earlier game, but Chebbak was the day's most dominant player -- hounding the Congolese defence from the first whistle. She scored three goals, but could easily have had more.