The Copper Queens delivered the first blow in the ‘Battle of Queens’ with a 1-0 victory over Black Queens in Ghana in the first leg of the Paris 2024 Olympics qualifiers.
In the eighteenth minute of the first half, Rachael Kundananji scored the game-winning goal with a deft lob of the ball over the goalkeeper.
BolaNews rates the performances of the Copper Queens in their 1-0 victory over Ghana at the Accra Sports Stadium.
GOALKEEPER
Catherine Musonda (9/10): Zambia’s number one was beaming with confidence in Accra as she kept a vital clean sheet for the Copper Queens. The shot stopper made an impressive six (6) saves against the Black Queens.
DEFENDERS
Esther Banda (6/10): The right-back did not enjoy her best game against Ghana. She struggled to keep up with the hosts’ trickery on the wing.
Lushomo Mweemba (8/10): Mweemba was a thorn in the flesh of Ghanaian attackers, whose attacking play was mercilessly wiped out by the defender.
Pauline Zulu (8/10): Zulu has formed an impregnable defensive partnership with Mweemba at the back. The duo has kept five clean sheets in their last eight games.
Martha Tembo (8/10): The left back did not show any signs of faltering, despite Ghana constantly attacking from her wing. Tembo expertly dealt with everything that was thrown at her.
MIDFIELDERS
Evarine Katongo (7/10): The youngster covered every blade of grass to keep up with the Black Queens’ overload in midfield.
Ireen Lungu (7/10): Attacking wise, Lungu’s distribution wasn’t quite accurate, but the midfielder made a good number of important clearances defensively.
FORWARDS
Rachael Nachula (6/10): The veteran missed two clear-cut chances in the space of 10 seconds as she failed to double the Copper Queens’ lead at the half hour mark.
Kabange Mupopo (6/10): It was a decent outing for Mupopo on her return to the Zambian national women’s team set-up.
Barbra Banda (7/10): Despite being heavily marked; the Copper Queens skipper fashioned an exquisite through ball to set up Rachael Kundananji.
Rachael Kundananji (8/10): It comes as no surprise that the world’s costliest women’s player scored the winning goal on the road to qualify for Paris 2024. From creating chances to making critical defensive interventions, Kundananji had everything in the locker.
Substitutes
Fridah Kabwe (6/10): Kabwe had a chance to make it 2-0 in the 77th minute, but her headed shot just went wide.
Avell Chitundu (6/10): The Zesco Ndola Girls playmaker was introduced in the 66th minute to correct the numerical deficit in midfield resulting from Susan Banda’s absence.
COACH
Bruce Mwape (8/10): Mwape would be appreciative that despite Ghana outplaying him in midfield play, his squad was still able to secure the victory. The head coach anticipates a far more formidable Copper Queens team in the rematch in Ndola.
READ ALSO: Ghana’s coach explains why her side can beat the Copper Queens in Ndola.
