Head coach of Zambia, Bruce Mwape has disclosed that the Copper Queens will find it very difficult to overcome the Black Queens in the third round of the CAF Women's Olympics (Paris 2024) qualifiers.
Ghana will host the Copper Queens on Friday, February 23 at the Accra Sports stadium for the first leg, before travelling to Ndola five days later for the second leg of the qualifier.
In a chat with reporters at the Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Friday morning, Mwape bemoaned his awareness of what the Ghanaians are capable of doing as he's expecting a very tough duel against them.
“We have played them before, I think some four years ago. They are actually a good side. They gave us a tough time, although we managed to beat them."
In 2018 the Copper Queens clashed with Ghana, when they trailed from 2-0 down to defeat the Black Queens 3-2 in a friendly match ahead of the 2018 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) at the Nkoloma Stadium.
Most sought-after Rachael Kundanaji, who is now the world’s most expensive footballer, scored a hat-trick in the second half of that match to snatch a comeback victory for the Copper Queens.
Mwape went ahead to reveal the strategy he will deploy away to Ghana
The Zambian coach believes that many teams understand how the Copper Queens play, making it easier for opponents to prepare for his side.
“I know it won’t be an easy game because we have been playing in these big competitions and all the teams have seen how the team has performed,” said Mwape. So I am sure right now they are seriously preparing for us.”
Mwape continued: “We will not go there and play an open game; it will be a conscious game being away because away games are usually very difficult, especially since their supporters will come in numbers just to make sure they support their team but that won’t discourage our players from getting a good result.
Mwape believes that having participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup and finishing third at the 2022 WAFCON will help them greatly: “the experience we have gained of late will help us in that game away to Ghana.”
The winner of this two-legged match will come up against Tunisia or Morocco in the final round of the qualifiers for a spot in Paris.
By: Pascal Amoah
