By Angela Bambala Bwalya
Copper Queens midfielder Blessings Zangose Zulu has urged fans to turn out in numbers at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Tuesday as Zambia look to overturn their first-leg deficit against Uganda and keep their Los Angeles 2028 Olympic qualification hopes alive.
Zambia face the Crested Cranes in the decisive second leg in Ndola, with Zulu stressing that home support could provide the team with a crucial boost as they seek to secure a place in the next round of the qualifiers.
The midfielder believes the presence of supporters will lift the players’ morale and help inspire a strong performance in front of their home crowd.
“That’s our home ground. We ask the fans to come in numbers to support us because the morale is high with us players when they are there,” Zulu said.
The Copper Queens head into the encounter needing a positive result after suffering a 2-1 defeat in the first leg in Kampala on 8 October.
Zulu is determined to play her part in Zambia’s fight for qualification, which would represent a significant personal milestone in her career.
“I will do everything in my power to help the team so that we qualify because it will be my first,” she said.
The midfielder acknowledged the challenge posed by Uganda, identifying the opponents’ physical strength and pace as key threats while noting their familiarity with playing on artificial turf.
However, Zulu remains confident that Zambia can rise to the occasion and turn the tie around, insisting the team is focused on securing victory.
“We are winning. We are not going to lose, they should just come,” she added.
With qualification hopes on the line, the Copper Queens will be counting on both their performance on the pitch and the backing of the home crowd as they seek to overturn the deficit and keep their Olympic dream alive.
The second leg will be played at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola on Tuesday, 13 October, with kick-off scheduled for 18:00 hours.
