In a stunning display, the Copper Queens of Zambia did the unthinkable and reversed a 2-1 home defeat to a 2-0 win over Morocco, booking their ticket Paris 2024 – their second consecutive Olympics Women’s Football Tournament.
A brace by the Copper Queens skipper, Barbra Banda who shone at the previous edition of the global showpiece ensured that Zambia go through after a nervy start.
Banda gave the Zambians the lead just before the break in the 40th minute which sprung hope into the visitors against a highly spirited Morocco side.
Needing just a goal to secure their ticket without conceding, Zambia sent more numbers forward and pinned the Moroccans into their own half who eventually made a mistake through a hand-ball by Najat Badri for the referee to point to the penalty spot.
It was again the skipper who stepped up to find the second which was the goal that sent the Zambians to their second Olympics tournament in succession.
With this being their second successive appearance, the Copper Queens will be looking at doing better than the Tokyo 2020 edition were they were eliminated in the first round of the competition.
