The Copper Queens of Zambia fell short in their bid for a second consecutive Olympic Games qualification, facing a setback with a 2-1 loss to Morocco at the Levy Mwanawansa Sports Stadium on Friday.
The match began on a promising note for the Copper Queens, who secured a penalty in the 33rd minute after dominating their opponents. However, the atmosphere shifted dramatically as Mexico-based forward Prisca Chilufya’s missed penalty dashed hopes of taking the lead, much to the surprise and disappointment of the fans.
Moroccan attacker Zineb Redouani took advantage of the disappointed Zambian team as she scored the opener for the away side in the 41st minute just before the first-half whistle. The second-half was more intense but it was the Copper Queens of Zambia that got their equalizer after Lushomo Mweemba headed home a freekick into the back of the net to make it 1-1 in the 80th minute.
As the match approached its conclusion, the visiting team seized the spotlight in front of the home crowd, with Tottenham Hotspur forward Rosella Ayane netting a crucial goal in the 90th minute, bringing the score to 2-1 in favor of the Atlas Lionesses of Morocco. Zambia faces a significant challenge as they strive to overturn the deficit in their upcoming away fixture next Tuesday, vying for a place in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
In other Games, the Super Falcons of Nigeria recorded a 1-0 victory over South Africa at the Mashood Abiola Sports Stadium in Abuja.
In the 43rd minute, Nigerian defender Noko Matlou was fouled in the penalty area, resulting in a penalty for the home team. Rasheetdat Ajibade successfully converted the penalty, giving the home team the lead.
The Super Eagles’ 1-0 triumph puts pressure on Bayana Bayana to reverse the outcome in Pretoria, South Africa on April 9, 2024, needing to score two goals to secure qualification for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
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Story by: David Kwaku Dzaku | univers.ug.edu.gh
