Zambia U20 Women’s National team head coach Florence Mwila has explained the tactical switch to long balls during the first leg of the third-round FIFA Women’s World Cup qualifiers against , insisting the change was necessary to keep Zambia competitive.
The first leg ended in a 1-1 draw in Kampala, leaving the tie delicately poised ahead of Wednesday’s return fixture at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.
Mwila revealed that Zambia were forced to abandon their usual possession-based approach after repeatedly losing the ball in dangerous areas against a physically strong Ugandan side.
“Coming from behind to draw in Uganda, we had to change the approach to the game and if something is not working you have to make changes as a coach,” Mwila said.
“We love possession football; we love to keep the ball but if you are facing a strong opponent like Uganda where you are losing possession cheaply we played long balls and we got a goal,” she added.
Zambia captain Jessy Zulu echoed her coach’s sentiments, identifying the midfield battle as the key factor that will determine who progresses to the final qualifying round.
“We have prepared enough on how to stop Uganda from scoring. The coaches have done their part and it is now up to us to implement everything,” Zulu said.
The skipper was also quick to acknowledge Uganda’s strength in the middle of the park, stressing the importance of tactical discipline.
“I think Uganda’s strength is in the midfield. We have practiced how we are going to close them and not expose our goalkeeper,” she added.
Kick-off is set for 15:00 hours, with the winner over two legs advancing to the final round of qualification, where either Ghana or South Africa await.
Tickets for the encounter are already on sale at all ShopRite outlets, with South, North and East Wing tickets priced at K20, West Wing tickets at K50, and VIP tickets going for K100.
