Copper Queens left-back Martha Tembo picked up an injury during a 3-0 victory over Red Arrows Women’s Football Club in a closed-door friendly match at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Thursday afternoon.
The Bruce Mwape-led squad was engaged in the friendly as part of their preparations for the upcoming European training camp ahead of the Paris Olympics, which kicks off on July 24.
Rachael Nachula and Ochumba Lubanji scored in the first half, while Misozi Zulu sealed the win with a stunning 26-yard strike in the second half. The team, bound for Paris, is also set to face New Zealand on July 13 in Lyon.
However, the match had a sour note as Tembo collided with Red Arrows attacker Esnart Mukubwe, popularly known as Tompo, just five minutes before the final whistle.
Tembo was substituted and struggled to walk, with an ice pack tightly secured to her ankle. The extent of her injury remains unknown, with the team scheduled to depart this weekend.
No official statement has been made yet by the team doctor regarding Tembo’s injury but fans will be hoping it’s not serious.
Zambia will compete in the Olympics for the second time, having previously represented the continent solely at the 2020 Tokyo edition, where they were eliminated in the group stage after losing 10-3 to the Netherlands and 1-0 to Brazil, before drawing 4-4 with China.
| Group A | Group B | Group C |
| France | USWNT | Spain |
| Colombia | Germany | Japan |
| Canada | Australia | Brazil, |
| New Zealand | Zambia | Nigeria |
They are in Group B, alongside Germany, the United States, and Australia.
The Copper Queens will open their 2024 Olympic campaign against the United States on July 25.
