Copper Queens head coach Bruce Mwape says the team will need to play a compact game against Germany to avoid defeat.
Mwape is aware of the challenge that the 2016 Olympics gold medalists pose for his side.
Mwape’s lasses will be looking to put their disappointing loss to Australia behind them and fight for their first ever win at the Olympics.
The gaffer says the team can’t afford to lose to Germany as they are aiming to go back home with a win.
“Germany is a strong team so we need to play a compact game. If we play an open game we will end up losing even that game which we can’t afford, we want to go back home with a win or a draw but the best is just to get a win,” Mwape said.
“A win would mean a lot. Our first Olympics in Tokyo we only managed a draw, so if we get a win it will simply show that there is a bit of improvement as compared to the last tournament,” he added.
The Copper Queens gave away a 5-2 lead to lose 6-5 to the Matildas on Sunday much to the annoyance of the fans.
Mwape however says this is not the end of the world there is always next time and the team will do well in future tournaments.
“It’s not the end of the World, this is not the last game we have played, we have other tournaments to come, they just have to be patient, you can lose today but there is always next time. When we win next , they will be happy,” he said.
“I understand they can’t be happy because we have lost two games in a row. As far as I know , at the moment the fans are behind this team. That’s why they can even be upset but they should forget about these two games. We still have some more tournaments to come, next time we will try and play better than we have played.”
The Copper Queens will face Germany tomorrow in their final group game at the Stade Geoffroy Guichard in Saint Étienne.
Kick off is set for 19h00 Central African Time.
Do not be rigid & compact with your decision making and reading of the game.
We need a conviencing performance from you & the technical bench coz the fans already know that the players put in their best but their coaches have let them down.
As fans we really hope you “Bruce Mwape” WILL NOT BE THE COACH lead the team to AFCON 2025. We do not want to listen to you say, “this is not the last game…” as though you are guaranteed being in that position at the next game. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH.
Bruce Mwape is the greatest fool who has ever coached Zambia National football team before. He cannot read, the game, he does not have the technical ability. The Zambia women national team is a very good side who deserves to have good coach like that of Ghana women national team. Please this coach right away we don’t want him anymore
FINALLY someone speaking my language. The Ghanaian coach Nora Häuptle, made a factual and yet embarrassing statement when she analysed Zambia before we were rescued by Barbra Banda’s individual exploits.
Nora Häuptle did not shy away from highlighting how good our team is and how they are let down by the technical bench & Bruce Mwape.
FAZ turned a blind eye & even when it’s obvious that the coaching staff is heavily relying on individual brilliance from the players to actually progress in qualifiers ONLY to participate at tournaments while others are COMPETITIVE…
BRUCE MWAPE must go. We do not need such mediocrity at AFCON, 2025. We need a coach who will help our player win trophies.
But bruce mwape you are a witch what has hazel nali mulenga done to the nation up order to ban her from playing for the cooper queens. See goal keeper you are using are not classical this is humiliation to the nation stop harbouring resentment she is perfect for the nation
Bruce mwape must be fired for using unskilled goal keepers where is hazel nali
FAZ is a let down and nothing is going to change. There are a lot of better coaches in Zambia who can tranform the fortune of our team.
The problem is that FAZ does not see it that way and surely can you compare those goal keepers we have at the moment to Hazel Nali.
Bruce Mwape lucky the technical skills to drill our talented side. What is working right now is individual brilliance not Bruce Mwape.