The Zambia Women’s National Team will face Ghana’s Black Queens at Accra Sports Stadium in the first leg of the 2024 Paris Olympics third-round qualifiers today.
The Copper Queens will face a daunting task in defeating the Black Queens, who have only lost one match against Namibia in their last eleven games.
However, Ghana’s coach, Nora Hauptle, has described Bruce Mwape’s lasses as a top team with good individual players whom she enjoys playing against.
“Zambia, of course, is a big opponent; they have been to the World Cup; they played 21 games last year; they have good individual players,” she told reporters at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday. “So I think they must win, but we also want to win. We want to face top individual players, of course, with a top team.”
Hauptle does not want her previous success with the Black Queens to cloud her mind ahead of today’s crucial qualifier, as she is focused on helping the team qualify for their first-ever Olympics.
“We won ten games out of 11 but in football, the only thing that counts is the next game. You can not live in the past. We want to pass this qualifying round. There has been no [Ghanian] women’s team at the Olympics and we want to be the first.”
Hauptle not looking for excuses
Prior to today’s game, the Black Queens reportedly considered boycotting due to unpaid bonuses totaling US$7500 per player from previous matches. However, local media reported that the Ghanaian government had paid the team in full yesterday.
Hauptle is not concerned about the disruption for her team, stating that she is not one to make excuses and instead wants Ghanaians to rally behind the team for a football party in Accra.
“I am never a coach who is looking for excuses. We expect everyone to come and support us. Of course, we heard about the protests but we will try to deliver and brighten everyone in Ghana. Let’s make a big football party tomorrow [today].”
Zambia’s coach, Mwape, whose team has been unbeaten in their last four games, has also stated that Ghana is not an intimidating opponent.
“We are not intimidated. They can call all their stars but that can not intimidate our team because we have our own plan so we are not going to be afraid. All we want to do is play them and get a result,” he said.
Mwape hopes to qualify the team for the Olympics for the second time in a row, having accomplished the feat in 2021, when the Copper Queens were Africa’s sole representatives at the 2020 Tokyo edition.
The return leg between Ghana and Zambia is scheduled for Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola next Tuesday.
The Winner after the two legs will face ever Morocco or Tunisia in the final round for a ticket to Paris.
READ MORE: Ireen Lungu reveals Copper Queens’ worries ahead of Ghana clash
