The 2023 FIFA World Women’s Cup was one hell of a rollercoaster ride for the Zambian women’s national team. Alas, Nadeshiko Japan obliterated the Copper Queens 5-0 in the opening game, and the Spanish followed suit with another 5-0 drubbing.
An encounter against Costa Rica offered the Copper Queens a shot at redemption, which they took with both hands. The 2022 Women’s AFCON bronze medalists blew away Las Ticas with a 3-1 victory courtesy of goals from Lushomo Mweemba, Barbra Banda, and Rachael Kundananji.
It was a historic night that saw the Copper Queens set a number of records and finish third in Group C with three points.
Bolanews presents ten records set by the Zambian women’s national team at the 2023 World Cup. The collection comprises some records that Zambian aficionados will be proud of and others that they will want to forget.
1. First Zambian team to play, score, and win at a senior FIFA World Cup
The Copper Queens beat the Bullets to the title of becoming the first Zambian team to participate in a senior World Cup. Zambian fans will be very optimistic that Chipolopolo can emulate the women’s team and qualify for the 2026 showpiece.
2. The national team that scored the 1000th FIFA Women’s World Cup goal
Zambian skipper Barbra Banda wrote her name into the history books when she became the player who netted the FIFA Women’s World Cup’s 1000th goal. The Copper Queen confidently dispatched her spot-kick into the bottom left corner to grab the completion’s millennium.
3. Fastest goal at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Lushomo Mweemba’s fabulous volley sent her nation into a frenzy as they celebrated their first-ever FIFA World Cup goal. At 2 minutes and 11 seconds, the center-back’s belter was also the fastest goal scored at the 2023 Women’s World Cup.
4. First landlocked African country to participate in a men’s or women’s FIFA World Cup
Be it at the men’s or women’s level, no landlocked African country has successfully crossed borders to grace the world stage, bar the Copper Queens.
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The slogan “Zambia ku chalo,” meaning “Zambian to the world” in English, has been making waves thanks to the Copper Queens.
5. First Southern African team to win at the FIFA Women’s World Cup
The Copper Queens became the first nation from Southern Africa to win a Women’s World Cup game. Astonishingly, they achieved that feat before South Africa, which debuted in 2019.
6. Team with the smallest player at the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Standing at only 1.40 meters, Avell Chitundu was the shortest player at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup. The little magician also became the first player to register an assist for Zambia in the tournament’s history.
7. First Southern African team to score three goals in the FIFA Women’s World Cup
Lushomo Mweemba’s spectacular volley, Barbra Banda’s effort from 12 yards, and Rachael Kundananji’s ice-cold finish sealed a 3-1 Zambian win over Costa Rica. This was the first time a Southern African team found the back of the net on three occasions.
8. First debutants to win their last group match after conceding 10 or more goals in their opening two
Recovering from humiliating opening defeats hasn’t been easy for any team in their debut campaign. However, the Copper Queens showed resilience by taking down Costa Rica with a 3-1 win after suffering two consecutive 5-0 batterings.
9. First African debutants to lose both of their first two games by five or more goals
The Copper Queens made headlines for the wrong reasons when they mirrored their 5-0 annihilation by Japan against Spain. It was the first time an African side lost that heavily in both of their first two games.
10. The only African side that was knocked out in the group stage of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
Unfortunately for Zambia, they were the only African side unlucky enough to be booted out of the World Cup before the knockout stages. However, it was always going to be a difficult task to progress ahead of Spain and Japan, ranked 6th and 11th, respectively.
