Zambia women’s national team coach Bruce Mwape says the Copper Queens still retain a chance of progressing into the quarter-finals despite their 3-0 loss at the hands of the USA last night at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The team endured a tough start to their campaign in Group B as the USA ran riot at Nice Stadium where they scored three goals under 30 minutes through Trinity Rodman and striker Mallory Swanson who scored twice.
Defender Pauline Zulu got sent off in the 33rd minute after a VAR review for reckless play to pound more misery on Mwape’s side.
Speaking in the aftermath of the defeat in Nice last night, Mwape said his side’s lacklustre performance in the opening stages had cost them the match.
“It was a bad result but the girls did well especially in the second-half. We messed up in the first-half where we made a lot of mistakes and they capitalized on those mistakes,” Mwape said.
Despite playing with one player down, the Copper Queens managed to put up an improved defensive performance in the second-half to hold the Americans from adding more goals, much to Mwape’s satisfaction.
“In the second half, we picked up despite playing with one player down but otherwise I was impressed with the way we played in the second half” he said.
Meanwhile, Mwape said the Copper Queens will have to work more on creativity ahead of Sunday’s encounter against Australia in their next match in Group B.
“We just need to strategize once again because we need to start creating chances. We created very few chances today or scoring opportunities so in that game we will need to actually open up and look for goals then I’m sure we will be able to carry the day,” he added.
Mwape also disclosed that the much improved second half performance on Thursday night has also boosted the team’s spirits going forward at the tournament.
“The morale is still high because when we conceded in the first-half we thought maybe it was going to be worse in the second half but when we changed the tactics, things happened and we will stick to the same tactics so that we at least get a win in our second game,” he said.
He further urged local fans to remain hopeful as the Copper Queens still retain a chance to reach the quarter-finals with two more matches to play against Australia on Sunday and Germany next Wednesday.
“They shouldn’t actually lose hope we still have two more games and we can still qualify to the quarter-finals. It is not the end of the world,” he said.
