After failing to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup, Orlando Pride striker Barbra Banda says the Copper Queens are seeking redemption by securing qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
The Copper Queens, led by Charles Haluboono and her assistant Florence Mwila, will face Uganda on Thursday, October 8, 2026, at Hamz Nakivubo Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 15:00 hours Zambian time, before hosting the second leg in Ndola on October 13, 2026.
“I think we are looking at this game very seriously. Looking at the WAFCON, it didn’t go our way, but we focus on this,” Banda told FAZ media.
“We need to qualify for the Olympics. We know how important it is to go to the Olympics, so this is what we are looking forward to, and we are taking each game at a step.”
Banda: New Copper Queens Players Must Have Senior-Team Mentality
Banda added that the team has new and young players who also deserve the opportunity to play at the Olympics as the Copper Queens seek a third consecutive appearance at the global games.
“We have new players that are coming in with good characters, so I think it would be more fantastic if we qualify for the 3rd time again.
“Today I’ve seen the players, and most of them would be new playing with them, so I think my encouragement to them is just the same. They have to up their game because this is the senior team. Despite them coming from the U20 and U17, they have to have the mentality of being senior players because they’re here.”
On facing Uganda, Banda wants the Copper Queens to score more goals to avoid calculations, but she was quick to stress that they are not underrating their opponents.
“Uganda is a very good side,, and we are not underrating them. We know what it takes. They are playing at home.
“And for us, what we want is not to do the calculations anymore, but we’re looking forward to winning here with a good number of goals so that we finish the game at our home ground.”
The winner over the two legs will face the winner of the tie between Ghana and Mauritius in the third round of the qualifiers.
