Zambia last competed in the Olympics in 2021, at the Tokyo Games, and the Copper Queens had a debut tournament to forget despite Barbra Banda setting the record for the first player to score consecutive hat-tricks in the competition’s history.
Bruce Mwape‘s side was eliminated from the competition after losing 10-3 to the Netherlands, losing 1-0 to Brazil, and drawing 1-1 with China.
Many people believed that Mwape needed to address his leaky defence, as the partnerships of Lushomo Mweemba, Agness Musesa, and Anita Mulenga in central defence appeared to be dragging the team down.
Mwape made no changes to his squad, with Mweemba and Musesa leading Zambia’s defence at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, while Mulenga was dropped, but they had another disappointing performance, being thrashed by Japan and eventual winners Spain 5-0 before defeating Costa Rica 3-1.
However, after the World Cup, Mwape dropped Musesa, who has yet to return to the team. Assistant coach Florence Mwila who was in charge of the team at the 2023 COSAFA Women’s Championship then selected 19-year-old Elite Ladies FC defender Pauline Zulu to replace Musesa and partner with Mweemba.
Zulu’s breakthrough at the COSAFA
Zulu impressed and following her success at the regional tournament, she has become an important member of the Copper Queens, starting in all six of the team’s last competitive matches across all competitions.
She was one of the best young players of the COSAFA, whose defensive prowess saw Zambia finish as the runner-up to the winner, Malawi.
“The experience of playing at the COSAFA was good because it was my first time playing a high-profile tournament,” she told BolaNews in an interview. “I want to work hard to be part of the senior team and represent Zambia at the highest level in the upcoming tournaments.”
Since then, she has played an important role in the team’s Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) and Olympic qualification campaigns.
Zulu helped the team keep back-to-back clean sheets against Angola in 6-0 victories, securing a spot in the 2024 WAFCON, which will be held in July of next year.
Her outstanding performances have also resulted in fewer goals conceded (10) in the Copper Queens’ last 12 games across all competitions than in their previous outings without her. The team has scored 30 goals and maintained six clean sheets.
Mwape will hope Zulu maintains her form at the Paris Olympics, where she is expected to make her debut.
Zambia will begin their campaign at the Olympics on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Nice, before facing Australia three days later. They will finish Group B with a match against Germany at the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium.
