We have a improved a lot – Bruce Mwape
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Copper Queens to compete in successive Olympic Games
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Zambia drawn in Group B with four-time champions USA, Germany and Australia
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Mwape hails improved Zambian women’s football
Successive qualification to the Olympic Games is a feat that Zambian Women’s national team coach, Bruce Mwape does not take lightly.
Mwape and his Copper Queens did the unthinkable when reversing a 2-1 loss, to overcome Morocco 2-0 away from home to secure a successive Olympic Games qualification for the Southern African nation.
It was an uphill task for the Zambians following the loss at home, but courage and heart by Mwape’s side saw them bouncing back to get the desired result that would see them rubber stamp their ticket to the global showpiece in July this year.
The successive qualification according to Mwape is a sign that Zambian women’s football is improving, as they have now qualified for all major competitions, including a podium finish at the last TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations where they came third after edging Nigeria 1-0.
“It means a lot to me because this will be a back-to-back participation in the Olympics. To me its good and the way we have improved from the time I started coaching this team, we have managed to go to all major tournaments. We have been to the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, the Olympics and even the World Cup so it is actually a bonus to me that we are going there again in succession”, said Mwape.
“This is a huge plus for women’s football in Zambia and shows tremendous growth in our game”, added the coach.
Under the tutelage of Mwape, the Zambians will have to have a master-plan up theirs sleeves as their qualification to Paris sees them drawn in a highly competitive group consisting of four-time champions, USA, Germany and Australia who will all be targeting maximum points against the Zambians.
The Copper Queens will be joint representatives of Africa in Paris along with Nigeria who overcame reigning TotalEnergies CAF Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions, South Africa in the final round of qualifiiers.
The Nigerians also face a tricky assignment in a Group C consisting of world champions Spain, Japan and Brazil.
The Super Falcons face Brazil in their opening match on 25 July, while the Copper Queens kick off their campaign against USA later that evening.
Olympics Women’s Football Tournament Groups:
GROUP A: France, Colombia, Canada, New Zealand
GROUP B: USA, Zambia, Germany, Australia
GROUP C: Spain, Japan, Nigeria, Brazil