The Copper Queens revived their chances of making a third consecutive Olympic appearance after beating Uganda 4-1 in Ndola to advance to the third round of the qualifiers with a 5-3 aggregate victory.
The victory sends the Copper Queens into the third round, where they will face Ghana who advanced after beating Mauritius 10-0 on aggregate.
In an exciting second leg match of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics qualifiers, second leg played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, the Copper Queens started brightly and took the lead in the eighth minute when Natasha Nanyangwe converted a corner from Eneless Phiri.
The Crested Cranes of Uganda responded six minutes later through Sylivia Kabene, who had also scored in the first leg in Kampala.
Kabene dispossessed Lushomo Mweemba before beating goalkeeper Hazel Nali to level matters.
Phiri restored Zambia’s lead in the 20th minute, connecting first-time with a pass from Prisca Chilufya.
Her effort went in off the upright to put the hosts ahead 2-1.
Barbra Banda had a chance to extend the lead before the break, but Uganda goalkeeper Vanessa Karungi denied her after a mistake by captain Shadia Nankya. Zambia went into half-time with a one-goal advantage.
Banda made amends six minutes into the second half. She capitalised on a mistake by the goalkeeper, won possession and slotted the ball into the net to put Zambia firmly in control of the tie.
Haalubono later introduced Racheal Kundananji for Chilufya as Zambia continued to press for more goals.
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The change paid off in the 83rd minute when Kundananji broke down the right wing and squared the ball for Banda, who finished to make it 4-1 on the day and give Zambia a two-goal advantage on aggregate.
Copper Queens coach Charles Haalubono said the performance had restored belief in the team’s Olympic dream after a disappointing first-leg display.
“They really did well today, it shows they really want to qualify, we did not play well in the first leg but today was good. If we keep playing like this we can keep dreaming,” Haalubono said.
Uganda assistant coach Collins Ahumuza admitted that her side had struggled to cope with Zambia, especially in the first half.
“The Copper Queens are really a good side, they played like a team at home and helped by their supporters. But we have ourselves to blame, we failed to manage the game in the first half, we failed to hold the ball which really is our strength. But we are a developing country country in women’s football, we will keep pushing,” Ahumuza said.
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