Zambia were held to a 1-1 draw by New Zealand on Saturday in their first international friendly match ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Women’s Football Tournament.
Bruce Mwape rested his best players, Barbra Banda and Racheal Kundananji, who are understood not to have had enough rest after joining camp late on Friday.
Kabange Mupopo captained the team and led the frontline with Ochumba Lubanji.
After the half-hour mark, Mupopo had a shot on target from the left wing but was denied by New Zealand goalkeeper Vic Esson, who easily stopped the ball.
Five minutes later, New Zealand launched an attack and got their biggest chance in the first half saved on the line after a superb clearance by Lushomo Mweemba after 18-year-old Racing Louisville forward Milly Clegg rounded keeper Ngambo Musole following through ball from Malia Steinmetz.
Lubanji also came close with a long range shot that went wide ten minutes before the half time break.
Both teams failed to break the deadlock, with the first stanza ending goalless. However, after the restart, Zambia immediately launched several attacks, and it would soon pay off when they won a free kick in the 49th minute, which saw Rhoda Chileshe head home the tiebreaker from Esther Siamfuko to put the Copper Queens in the lead. It was her first ever national team goal.
New Zealand equalizer
With 67 minutes played, New Zealand were awarded a penalty after Diana Banda was judged to have handled the ball in the box. Katie Kitching made no mistake to equalise from the spot after sending Ngambo Musole in the wrong direction.
New Zealand continued to apply pressure to the Copper Queens after the goal, seemingly gaining momentum and forcing Musole into three important stops.
Mwape finally introduced Kundananji and Banda, who replaced Lubanji and Racheal Nachula, respectively.
The two put in a lot of effort, but time was not on their side as Kundananji attempt to slide in a cross from Banda went wide. The captain’s lone chance on goal also ended up in the goalkeeper’s arms in the last moments of play.
The match ended 1-1, and the Copper Queens will now look to continue their preparations for the Olympics, which kick off on July 25.
They are in Group B alongside the USWNT, Germany and Austrialia.
Mwape’s lasses will open their second Olympic campaign against the USWNT on July 25.
