Copper Queens coach Bruce Mwape has come under fire from fans and pundits alike, with calls for his sacking following Zambia’s 3-3 draw with Ghana’s Black Queens in the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifiers on Wednesday in Ndola.
Although Mwape’s lasses qualified for the last round of the qualifiers with a 4-3 aggregate win thanks to their 1-0 advantage in the first leg, the former Nchanga Rangers trainer’s tactics have been questioned, with his Ghanaian counterpart Nora Hauptle stating that Zambia’s tactics need to be improved.
Ghana dominated play against Zambia but were unlucky not to win. Mwape admitted after the game that his team did not play well, citing the midfield as their main weakest link, but he was nonetheless delighted with the result.
“The game was tough and we expected that but we are happy with the result. But looking at the performance, I think we were on and off,” he told a post-match press conference at the Levy Mwanawansa stadium.”
Mwape continued: “We had a problem in the midfield. Most of the time, it was Ghana that was playing in the midfield, but there was nothing that we could have done. Some of our regular players were not there; we’ve got others that have gone for military training and Susan Banda is injured.
“So I think by the time we play the next game, Susan Banda will be there, and of course we will not just sit down; we will be looking for other midfielders who can help the team go forward.
“They are entitled to their opinions”- Mwape
When asked about the sentiments expressed by some fans that he has reached his limit and can not take the Copper Queens any further, Mwape said, “Most of the time, I don’t [respond to critics]. It’s not even necessary to react to the comments from the fans. They are entitled to their opinions, so I stick to what I know and make sure that I do my job accordingly.”
Mwape is aware of the task that awaits his team when they face a rejuvenated Morocco in April.
“We have played Morocco before; we know their strengths and weaknesses. So I don’t think there is a team that we can fear at the moment because most of our players have experience; they have played a lot of international games, so I don’t think Morocco can be a problem for us.”
READ MORE: Nora Hauptle takes a dig at Bruce Mwape’s tactics, reveals Zambia’s weaknesses
