It was heartbreak in Ndola as Zambia’s young queens saw their World Cup dreams go up in smoke, falling to Uganda at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in a do-or-die qualifier.
The Junior Copper Queens walked off the pitch shattered, their 2-1 aggregate defeat handing Uganda passage to the final qualifying round, where the is a daunting clash with Ghana. The Black Princesses themselves had to dig deep to edge South Africa 2-1 over two legs.
For Zambian fans who packed the stadium hoping for a miracle, the silence at full-time told the story.
Head coach Florence Mwila wore the pain on her face but refused to hang her head. Speaking after the match, she pointed to defensive slips as the difference-maker, yet couldn’t hide her pride in how far this squad has come.
“Small mistakes here and there, but if you watched us in Kampala and then today, you saw growth,” Mwila reflected, her voice heavy with emotion. “Nobody enjoys losing—trust me, this stings. But this is how we learn.”
She added with quiet determination: “Getting this far tells you something. Usually, we’re packing our bags much earlier. The tunnel isn’t as dark as it used to be.”
The coach admitted her team had chances but couldn’t find that killer touch when it mattered most.
On the victorious side, Uganda’s coach Sheryl Botes didn’t hide her joy. “We came hunting for a win and we got it. Make no mistake, Zambia pushed us. But we knew they’d go long, we prepared for it, and the girls executed perfectly.”
The match itself had barely settled when Uganda struck. Angel Auki tore down the left like a woman possessed, her low cross causing chaos in Zambia’s box. Before anyone could react, Mary Kantono pounced, stabbing home from close range. The away fans erupted.
Uganda nearly doubled their lead moments later when Sylvia Kabeene slipped Kantono through, but goalkeeper Chishala Mafunte stood tall to keep Zambia in touching distance.
In the 17th minute, the stadium held its breath as Mercy Chipasula raced clean through. For a moment, it felt like redemption. But with teammates screaming for a pass, she hesitated—just long enough for Uganda’s defense to scramble back and snuff out the danger.
After the break, Zambia came out swinging. The urgency was there, the desperation visible. In the 55th minute, Chipasula spotted the Ugandan keeper off her line and tried her luck from distance. The effort had ambition but lacked the power to trouble the scoresheet.
As the second half wore on, Uganda grew wise to the occasion. They slowed things down, strangled the midfield, and made Zambia chase shadows. The final whistle brought relief for the visitors and devastation for the hosts.
For Zambia’s youngsters, the pain is fresh. But if Mwila is right about that light at the end of the tunnel, this might just be the beginning of something, not the end.
