The Zambia Women’s National Team is back in the country after securing qualification for the Women’s Football Tournament at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The Copper Queens flew back from Rabat after overturning a 2-1 defeat in the first leg to beat Morocco 2-0 in the reverse fixture played at the Prince Heritier Moulay El Hassan stadium in Rabat on Tuesday.
A dozen of officials and supporters greeted the team outside Kenneth Kaunda International airport in Lusaka following their arrival at 20h29 via a chartered plane.
Foreign based players except captain Barbra Banda flew directly to their bases from Rabat. Banda will fly to her new club in the United States from Lusaka after completing her switch.
FAZ President Andrew Kamanga, general secretary Reuben Kamanga and other stakeholders were on hand to receive the Queens.
“Without this support, we couldn’t have been here celebrating our qualification to the Olympics. I would also like to give credit to the players for the job well done, it wasn’t easy,” coach Bruce Mwape said.
“I would like to thank the fans for the support. This is a national team, it’s not for Bruce Mwape, the technical bench and the players alone, fans should continue supporting the team because that is one way of encouraging the supporters.”
FAZ President Andrew Kamanga thanked the Copper Queens for a job well done.
“I can assure you that today people were celebrating. We do salute you for a commendable performance last night which will go a long way,” Kamanga said.
“Qualifying is one thing, competing is another. Where we are competing, we always provide the best that we can. We are going to give you the best preparation that you need for the tournament. We are going to organise an international camp and two big teams taking part in the Olympics have already come through (for friendlies).”
Kamanga thanked government for ensuring the Copper Queens smooth passage to Morocco.
“Just having a charter (for the team) was able to make a huge difference on what we wanted to achieve, we can only repay you with good results.”
“Thank you for the support from the ministry, FAZ and fans. We won’t relax, the preparation have to start now and to the girls thank you for the fighting spirit in Morocco, we made it,” captain Barbra Banda said in a vote of thanks.
Job well done shepolopolo.like always we are behind you all the way.
This is pure resilience from the girls besides lack of proper technical bench led by useless Bruce Mwape and useless administrative leadership of Kamanga. Our standards are retrogressive as opposed to progressive. Bring back Kalusha and Charly cool to run Zambian soccer, by the way get rid of Ba Mbuya Ba Grant from the male soccer team . 😅
You are an idiot.apart from corruption what did kalu do at FAZ.there was no audit report for 5 years and gate takings were not accounted for.Kalu worshipper with no sense.when the nation is celebrating, you vomit rubbish.kalu is the most unpatriotic zambian,who voted against his own rainford kalaba for African footballer of the year and has chosen to stay in foreign countries
Mr. Kabanga at least learn to appreciate. Kalu is not the only person we have in zambia, for I think he has done his best for the nation he need to rest and leave room for others.
What is kalu, those are old times, present and future plans. Ba misa penalty ka last.
Congratulations to the Copper Queens for qualifying to the Olympics. This time around the coach listened to his critics and we saw renewed fighting spirit and determination in the players but there’s a lot more the girls need to improve. It is not always that the best team that wins and in this case Morocco were a better side i e ball possession, accurate passing and dribbling skills and Copper Queens need to exhibit this going forward including strategic counter attacks