Cape Town – Zambia’s Copper Queens have pushed against all odds to make it to the Tokyo Olympics.
The team has defeated 2019 Women’s World Cup qualifiers Cameroon in the play-off to take the sought-after slot above even the might of Africa’s record nine-time champions, Nigeria.
The Copper Queens have run into a wall of challenges since their memorable qualification in March 2020, and played only one friendly due to coronavirus, says BBC.
In February they had to cancel their eight-team international tournament in Turkey as more positive Covid tests in the squad came about, the report says.
ALSO READ: World Cup hopefuls Zambia sack coach Milutin Sredojevic
However, difficulties have done little to dampen their enthusiasm.
“It is so amazing and everyone is excited to represent the country – not just Zambia, but Africa at large,” the report quotes the team’s captain Barbra Banda as saying.
In other football news, the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) has fired Serbian coach Milutin Sredojevic, as they prepare for the World Cup qualifying programme from September.
“After a meeting between FAZ and the coach it was agreed that in the interest of progress for both parties they had to separate.” AFP quoted a statement by FAZ.
“Whoever succeeds Sredojevic will pin hopes of a revival on young forwards like Patson Daka, who recently signed a five-year contract with English Premier League club Leicester City”, African Insider further reports.
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Compiled by Sinothando Siyolo
