The 6-0 win over Angola in the first leg technically makes this tie a formality rather than a contest for a place at the biggest women’s tournament on the continent.
However, listening to skipper Barbra Banda, you tend to get the feeling that the players are not getting ahead of themselves just yet. This is encouraging.
“We are not relaxed,” Banda said, “as a team we [know] we still have unfinished business.”
Indeed, Angola coach Sousa Garcia may have thrown in the towel, but Zambia still needs to approach this game with the seriousness it deserves. By the way, the game isn’t just about sealing qualification.
This encounter is about sharpening blades, testing tactics, and building momentum for the real fight: the Olympic Games qualifier against Ghana in two months.
“I think the game is very important. We want to seal WAfCON qualification, then look at the game against Ghana,” Banda concluded.
Banda warned against underestimating Angola.
Her words are music to our ears. This isn’t arrogance; it is respect. It is the battle-hardened warrior who knows that even the meekest opponent can land a lucky punch.
So come on, Copper Queens! Let’s see the same fire that devoured Angola in the first leg but with an added layer of strategic intent.
READ MORE: Why Kundananji is excited to return to Ndola when the Copper Queens host Angola at Levy
Use this match to experiment, to fine-tune that lethal Banda-Kundanji partnership, and to solidify your defensive wall.
To the fans, let’s go, show up in numbers and turn this ‘formality’ into a victory lap, a dress rehearsal for the continental and Olympic stages that await!