Copper Queens Overcome Uganda to Book Place in Olympic Qualifiers Third Round

The Copper Queens revived their hopes of making a third consecutive Olympic appearance after beating Uganda 4-1 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to advance to the third round of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualifiers with a 5-3 aggregate victory.

Zambia will now face Ghana in the next round after the West Africans advanced with a commanding 10-0 aggregate win over Mauritius.

The hosts made a bright start to Tuesday’s second-leg encounter, taking the lead in the eighth minute when Natasha Nanyangwe converted a corner delivered by Eneless Phiri.

Uganda responded six minutes later through Sylvia Kabene, who dispossessed Lushomo Mweemba before beating goalkeeper Hazel Nali to level the match.

Phiri restored Zambia’s advantage in the 20th minute, finishing first-time from a pass by Prisca Chilufya, with her effort going in off the upright.

Barbra Banda had an opportunity to extend the lead before half-time but was denied by Uganda goalkeeper Vanessa Karungi.

Banda made amends six minutes after the restart, capitalising on a goalkeeping mistake to put Zambia 3-1 ahead and give the Copper Queens greater control of the tie.

With Zambia searching for another goal, interim coach Charles Haalubono introduced Racheal Kundananji for Chilufya. The substitution proved effective in the 83rd minute when Kundananji drove down the right flank and squared the ball for Banda to complete her brace and seal the 4-1 victory.

Haalubono praised his players for their response after the first-leg defeat in Kampala.

“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 acknowledged Zambia’s performance while admitting that her side struggled to manage the game.

“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.

The Copper Queens now turn their attention to Ghana as they continue their pursuit of a third successive Olympic appearance.