Copper Queen’s bow out of WWC with pride with Barbra Banda as player of match.Video
Zambia’s Copper Queens displayed a stunning turnaround as they bid farewell to the FIFA Women’s World Cup with an impressive 3-1 victory over Costa Rica.
After facing disappointing losses in their initial two matches of the tournament against Japan and Spain, the Zambian team showed resilience and determination, leaving no room for complacency.
The match against Costa Rica witnessed Zambia making history as they secured their first-ever win in a senior FIFA Women’s World Cup encounter. The Copper Queens’ relentless pursuit of success paid off, bringing them a well-deserved triumph.
The action-packed game saw Lushomo Mweemba making a mark early on, becoming the first Zambian player to score at the senior World Cup and scoring the fastest goal at the current tournament.
Slotting in a corner from Avell Chitundu, Mweemba’s goal set the stage for Zambia’s dominance in two minutes, 12 seconds of the game.
The momentum continued with Barbra Banda’s finesse, as she coolly converted a penalty after being fouled by Katherine Alvarado in the box. This not only marked Zambia’s second goal but also engraved Banda’s name in history as she scored the 1000th goal in the entire Women’s World Cup competition.
At halftime, the score was 2-0 in favor of Zambia, and their relentless efforts showed no signs of abating.
The second half saw Costa Rica fighting back, but Zambia’s skipper, Barbra Banda, was the driving force behind their success. She showcased her impeccable touch and facilitated Rachael Kundananji to score Zambia’s third goal of the game.
In the end, Zambia’s commendable performance secured them the third position in Group C.
Meanwhile, Japan topped the group with a dominating 4-0 victory over Spain, recording an impressive 11 goals without conceding any in three games.
The Copper Queens’ journey in the FIFA Women’s World Cup may have come to an end, but their spirited performance and historic achievements will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on the global football stage.
By Moses Makwaya
