The Copper Queens fell 6-1 to Brazil during the penultimate match of the FIFA Series Tournament after going a player down after goalkeeper Hazel Nali was sent off. A consolation goal from Barbra Banda in the 51st minute denied the hosts a cleansheet at the Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá.
BolaNews rates the Zambian women’s national team players in their humbling defeat to Brazil.
GOALKEEPER
Hazel Nali (5/10): Nali did not put a foot wrong up until the red card, making good saves, dealing with crosses and running off her line to clear danger.
DEFENDERS
Margret Belemu (4/10): A difficult night for the fullback who was struggled against Brazil’s attack.
Mapalo Maluba (4/10): The youngster’s levels of concentration and influence at the back dropped as the game progressed.
Lushomo Mweemba (4/10): She was at sixes and sevens in defence and did not read danger as well as she has often done in the past.
Racheal Nachula (4/10): The veteran ran out of fuel in the closing stages of the match.
MIDFIELDERS
Susan Banda (4/10): Banda was sacrificed after Zambia suffered a numerical deficit.
Rhoda Chileshe (4/10): Chileshe was chasing shadows in the middle of the park.
Grace Chanda (4/10): The playmaker was not as influential as she would have liked upfront.
FORWARDS
Mercy Chipasula (5/10): Chipasula set up Barbra Banda’s disallowed goal vs Brazil before exiting the pitch in the second half.
Prisca Chilufya (5/10): She was quite industrious upfront and linked up well with Banda in the first half before losing her spark especially after the latter’s substitution.
Barbra Banda (8/10): The skipper was Zambia’s main attacking threat on the night, constantly asking questions of Brazil’s defence before scoring an outstanding goal.
SUBSTITUTES
Mwila Mufunte (5/10): An eventful night for the teenager, who conceded a remarkable freekick from the first shot she faced, made an assist, gave away a penalty, made some top saves and let in some stoppable shots.
Mary Mambwe (4/10): Another quiet outing for the player that has bagged 20 league goals in the Zambian topflight this season.
Natasha Nanyangwe (4/10): She replaced an injured Barbra Banda in the closing stages of the match.
COACH
Charles Haalubono (4/10): Haalubono’s Copper Queens gave Brazil a run for their money initially despite going a player down but the manager did not make enough substitutions to maintain that level of performance.
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