In a pivotal clash for Olympic qualification, Zambia bolstered their chances with a crucial 1-0 victory over Ghana in Accra on Friday, February 23rd.
Despite grappling with the loss of teammate Norin Betani earlier in the week, the Copper Queens showcased resilience and solidarity, navigating a challenging environment to secure the win.
Facing a determined Ghanaian side amidst fervent home support, Zambia eked out a narrow victory, laying the groundwork for the return leg where they seek to cement their qualification against the Black Queens.
Reflecting on the match, coach Bruce Mwape acknowledged the intensity of the contest and commended his team’s ability to withstand pressure.
“I think the game was tough in a sense that both teams were fighting for one thing, qualifying to the Olympics. Although in the first half, we created a number of good goal scoring chances, we only managed to get one goal. Our aim was to finish the game in the first half. Ghana gave us a tough time, but we managed to contain them until the final whistle,” said a satisfied Mwape.
The pivotal return leg is slated for Wednesday in Ndola, with the victor advancing to the final qualifying round.