The Copper Queens are the second team to be knocked out of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup after Costa Rica. Their debut campaign has been brought to a premature end as they were obliterated 5-0 by Spain on Wednesday.
Compared to the Japan game, Zambia’s attacking play was potent enough to generate shots but not effective enough to score a goal.
READ ALSO: “Its not easy to play against best teams”- admits Mwape after 5-0 loss to Spain
The 2022 WAFCON bronze medalists were still found wanting defensively. They could not string together any impressive passes to unleash their attacking threat.
Bolanews rates the performances of the Copper Queens in their 5-0 defeat to Spain.
Goalkeeper
Eunice Sakala (7/10): Brought in as a replacement for the suspended Catherine Musonda, Sakala became the youngest goalkeeper to start for Zambia at a World Cup. The 21-year-old conceded five goals on the night despite producing a mouth-watering eight saves against La Roja.
Defenders
Margaret Belemu (5/10) : No player produced more tackles than Belemu during the match (5). The right-back was blown away by the trickery and flair of the Spaniards’ attacking play.
Agness Musesa (5/10): Being tasked with marking a striker like Jennifer Hermoso wasn’t going to be an easy job. Musesa could not cope with the quality of the Mexican-based forward, who scored twice and set up another.
Lushomo Mweemba (5/10): For the second game in succession, Mweemba was prematurely withdrawn from the match with an injury. No player on the pitch made more clearances (9) than the Green Buffaloes’ defender.
Martha Tembo (5/10)
Another performance in which Tembo was given the opportunity to venture forward and attack. The fullback produced four clearances, three interceptions, and three tackles against Spain.
Midfielders
Susan Banda (4/10): The veteran’s outing against Spain only lasted half an hour. She was brought off for Mary Wilombe following a knock. This could be her last match in the FIFA World Cup if she fails to recover in time for the Costa Rica game.
Evarine Katongo (5/10): Katongo was chasing shadows in midfield throughout the 75 minutes in which she featured against Spain. The youngster will hope to put in a better performance against Costa Rica to show the world her true quality.
Ireen Lungu (5/10): The midfielder will be proud to keep Ballon d’Or winner Alex Putellas quiet but disappointed that she wasn’t influential in midfield. Lungu was dribbled past more times than any other player (5).
Forwards
Xiomera Mapepa (4/10): Her only highlight of the match was a set-piece opportunity with which she couldn’t find any of her teammates, unfortunately. Bruce Mwape eventually replaced her with Avell Chitundu as he opted for more control in the middle of the park.
Rachael Kundananji(5/10): Kundananji was presented with a number of openings to create a goal for her teammates but decided to go for glory instead. The striker could not emulate the form with she scored 25 goals in Spain.
Barbra Banda (6/10): Barbra did not get enough support upfront each time she was in possession. The Zambian talisman was very isolated in attack against La Roja. That’s six goals in her first two Olympics games but none in as many World Cup appearances for the captain.
Substitutes
Ochumba Oseke Lumbaji (4/10): She managed to complete only 4 passes out of 9. Perhaps its was too late for her to make any visible impact.
Avell Chitundu (5/10): She was one of the substitutes that showed a bit of impact after coming on but it was not enough to help her side who were already falling 3-0.
Vast Phiri (4/5): Came on for injured Lushomo Mweemba but did not help matters at the back as the Copper Queens conceded two more goals with her on the pitch.
Mary Wilombe (4/10): Just like Phiri, she did not do much to make an impact with the limited time she had on the pitch.
Coach
Bruce Mwape (4/10): Conceding ten goals in two FIFA World Cup appearances is a sorry sight, even for debutants. Mwape could not deliver against Spain as Zambia’s defense was in sixes and sevens while their attack was too reliant on Banda.
Now it’s a matter of pride against Costa Rica. The Copper Queens will be chasing their first goal and point on Monday in their last game.
