The Zambia Women’s National Team, The Copper Queens suffered a 3-2 defeat in their first match of the four-nations 2025 Yongchuan International Tournament campaign on Saturday afternoon.
Coach Nora Elizabeth Häuptle went into the match without the US based quartet of Skipper Barbra Banda, Rachel Kundananji, Grace Chanda and Prisca Chilufya because of new travel restrictions by the US Government.
This news was compounded further by the absence of 2024 COSAFA Women’s Championship player of the tournament Fridah Mukoma who suffered a concussion in the final training match.
Coach Häuptle gave Mercy Chipasula her first senior National Team start with Judith Soko, Evarine Susan Katongo and Natasha Nanyangwe all starting.
Thailand took the lead in the 36th minute against the run of play with Thawanrat Promthongmee scoring from close range.
Israeli based Rachel Nachula leveled matters just before halftime benefiting off a Kabange Mupopo assist.
Zambia went ahead for the first time in the match at the hour mark as Ochumba Oseke Lubanji came off the bench to score from close range after Thailand failed to deal with a corner.
Thailand levelled matters ten minutes later as Karnjanathat Phomsri made an instant impact by scoring the leveler after Catherine Musonda failed to deal with Penggam’s freekick.
Three minutes later Thailand went ahead as Saowalak Pengngam put them back in the lead from the spot.
The Copper Queens tried to push for an equalizer but it did not come as Thailand held on to win the match 3-2.
Copper Queens will now play Uzbekistan in the third-place playoff match on Tuesday 8 April, 2025 at 9h30 CAT.
The tournament is being used as part of preparations for the 2024 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations set for Morocco in July.
2025 YONGCHUAN INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT
FULL-TIME: Zambia 2-3 Thailand
(Racheal Nachula 45’, Ochumba Oseke Lubanji 60’ | Thawanrat Promthongmee 36’, Karnjanathat Phomsri 70’, Saowalak Pengngam (P) 73’)
Very bad result. The technical bench errored to bench Martha Tembo. Worse omission of Mildfieder Misozi Zulu is regretted. It is now two loses in a row.
Copper queens work hard next game against Uzbekistan poor resuit yesterday zambia 2:3 Thailand