The Zambia Women’s national team thrashed Togo 4-1 to seal the top spot in group B at the ongoing 2022 TotalEnergies WAFCON in Morocco.
Coach Bruce Mwape made one change to the team that beat Tunisia withdrawing Misozi Zulu for Avell Chitundu.
Zambia started strong and was awarded a penalty just after 47 seconds, Lushomo Mweemba stepped up but her penalty was saved by Ame Amouklou.
Zambia however continued to pill pressure on the debutantes. After a few missed chances Zambia finally opened the scores in the 15th minute as Grace Chanda got on the end of an Ochumba Oseke Lubanji through ball to score her first of the tournament.
Zambia doubled the lead five minutes later, Grace Chanda tried to double the lead but hit into Ame only for the ball to fall kindly to Irene Lungu who thumped in a beautiful strike from outside the box to make it 2-0.
After being on the back foot for a long time, Togo finally pulled one back in the 35th minute, Skipper Afi Woedikou’s free-kick fouled Hazel Nali who was out of her goal, 2-1.
Two minutes later, Xiomara Mapepa had a chance to restore the two-goal caution but missed a glorious with only Ame to beat.
Mapepa made up for her mistake three minutes later with a fine finish from a tight angle following a beautiful solo run.
Zambia took the 3-1 lead to the break. Bruce Mwape made a change at the start of the second half with Misozi Zulu replacing Avell Chitundu.
Zambia picked up from where they left off in the first half. Xiomala Mapepa continued to cause trouble on the wing.
Zambia increased their lead in the 60th minute, Grace Chanda completing her brace from close range off a Siomala Mapepa cross.
Zambia continued to control the game but could not add to their tally, 4-1 the match ended.
Skipper and two-goal hero, Grace Chanda was named the official Player of the Match.
Zambia will now face Senegal in the quarter-finals on Wednesday 13 July at 19h00CAT.
The semi-finalists will automatically qualify for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand next year. Two more teams will be involved in inter-continental play-offs.
Zambia XI Vs Togo
Hazel Nali 16, Lushomo Mweemba 3, Margaret Belemu 8, Ochumba Oseke Lubanji 9 (Noria Sosala 84′), Grace Chanda © 10, Xiomara Mapepa 11, Evarine Susan Katongo 12 (Maweta Chilenga 90′), Martha Tembo 13, Ireen Lungu 14 (Mary Wilombe 84′), Agness Musesa 15 (Anita Mulenga 84′), Avell Chitundu 21 (Misozi Zulu 46′).
UNUSED SUBS:
Catherine Musonda 1, Esther Siamfuko 4, Esther Banda 17, Leticia Lungu 18, Natasha Nanyangwe 22
Wasteful Copper Queens thrashes hapless Togo.
The Copper Queens could have won by upto more than 10 -1, had itt not been for wasting clear goal opportunities
We can do well to be thankful when they perform well
Keep it up, that’s what we want as Zambians. Zambia go forward. We are behind you until to the final 🏐🏀🥎⚾🏆🏆🏅🥉
Welldone
Well done zambia
Comment: well done shepolopolo ushitasha mwana wandoshi.keep it up.we want them to make it through the final.
That game has potential to be played over and over in future.
The team has missed two penalties so far, so it’s important that the coaching bench looks at penalty taking training seriously because they are now going into the knock out stage, where there are no draws! Games may have to be decided on panalties up to the final game!
Where’s Mr. Simataa Simataa and others who enjoy calling on Mr. Andrew Kamanga to resign whenever the “lazy” men’s national soccer team loses! Kamanga even mentioned that when the women’s national soccer team qualified for Olympics nobody called on them to resign. Are those not achievements by the same Kamanga FAZ? Let’s be fare and mature in our approach to issues!
Penalties must be handled seriously,we have missed so far two making the team to equalize or not gaining more points. The couch must look into that,we don’t want drowbacks. We don’t want to come back in quarter finals please please 🙏🙏
After kicking the cadres out even the Kananga soccer critics have also gone mute.
Were they pf?
I liked of and its development agenda. But I hated the cadres because they were stupid fools. Who liked the cadres anyway?
Strikers should improve in goal scoring.