Zambia Women’s National Team forward Kabange Mupopo believes the Copper Queens work so hard to dig positive results regardless of their opponents.
Reflecting on Zambia’s qualification to the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to be held in July, Mupopo attributed the team’s success to teamwork and the ‘never-say-die’ attitude displayed on and off the pitch.
Zambia came from a 2-1 first leg loss to Morocco at the Levy Mwanawasa stadium in Ndola before hunting down the Atlas Lionesses 2-0 at the Prince Moulay EL Hassan stadium in Rabat to secure an Olympic ticket via a 3-2 aggregate score.
“It was very tough because the two teams we played (Ghana and Morocco) were tough teams especially Ghana so I was very happy to be part of the team, it was nice,” Mupopo said.
“We had a lot of pressure, we didn’t play our best game when we were at home (last week) but when we went to Morocco, we just made sure we did everything together and did our level best.”
Zambia are in Group B alongside USA, Germany and Australia at the Women’s Olympic Football Tournaments that will run from 24 July – 10 August as part of the Paris 2024 Games, and Mupopo believes hard work will be key in getting positive results.
“We have to train very hard, be together all the time, it’s about team spirit, training together and all that. It’s a tournament and not a one game (affair),” the Green Buffaloes WFC captain remarked.
“This team has grown from the time I was playing. You can see that everyone wants to play, it’s a tough team and everyone can see that.”
Asked how she felt about returning to the Olympics where she last featured as a 400m runner in Brazil in 2016, Mupopo described the feeling as marvellous.
“It is an amazing feeling, when you have been there (as an athlete), now you are going to be there with the football team so it’s a very nice thing. I am sure we can call it (the comeback) good timing. Everyone wants to be at the Olympics, I am really happy,” Mupopo said.